The global nickel market should swing into a 23000 tonne deficit in 2016 from a small surplus in 2015, the International Nickel Study Group said on Wednesday, predicting that Chinese customers would drive an increase in nickel use.

It said the market should post a surplus this year of 49000 tonne.

World primary nickel usage is expected to increase both in 2015 and 2016 with China continuing to be the main market for nickel, INSG said in a release on Wednesday.

Global demand for nickel is expected to rise to 1.965-million tones in 2016 versus 1.905-million in 2015.

In Europe, primary nickel stainless steel producers should benefit from antidumping duties decided by the European Commission on imports of cold rolled stainless steel from China and Taiwan, it said.

Global output of nickel is exoected to shrink to 1.942-million tones in 2016 versus 1.954-million in 2015, the Lisbon-based group said.

Indonesia’s 2014 ban on ore exports has cut China’s nickel pig iron production. But more output from the Philippines filled the gap and allowed China to produce at higher levels than expected, the group said.

NPI production is expected to record an increase in 2016 due to the ramp up of new projects but overall progress in building up production facilities remains slow.

London Metal Exchange nickel stocks quadrupled over the past three years to hit a record of 470376 in July. They are currently sitting just under 450000 tones.

• [Editor:Juan]