November 15, 2021 – It is possible that Indonesian nickel ore prices were kept artificially low through market manipulation. The Indonesian anti-monopoly authority is currently investigating this suspicion. In Europe, low-carbon ferro-chrome prices rose by up to 10% last week due to scarce availability. And the Stainless Steel World trade fair in the Netherlands from 30 November to 2 December 2021 has been cancelled by the organiser.

Stainless Espresso: Were nickel ore prices kept artificially low?
Stainless Espresso: Were nickel ore prices kept artificially low?

Low-carbon ferro-chrome in short supply in Europe

European low-carbon ferro-chrome prices have risen by up to 10% in the last week due to scarce availability. This is due to high demand and increased energy costs. This has led to some producers apparently not even having spot quantities available.

Have nickel ore prices been kept artificially low?

According to media reports, the Indonesian anti-monopoly authority KPPU is investigating the suspicion that nickel ore prices may have been kept artificially low. It is possible that the prices were depressed by domestic nickel smelters through manipulation. If this suspicion is confirmed, the question arises what will happen to the nickel price if it is no longer kept artificially low?

Stainless Steel World 2021 in Maastricht, Netherlands cancelled

As we had to learn to our great regret last week, the trade fair Stainless Steel World 2021 in Maastricht has been cancelled by the organiser KCI due to the current pandemic situation in the Netherlands. The organiser has postponed the fair until the end of September 2022.

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