Indonesia Nickel Matte HS7501 Export Data 2025 May Overview

Indonesia Nickel Matte (HS 7501) 2025 May Export: Key Takeaways

Indonesia's Nickel Matte Export (HS Code 7501) in May 2025 reveals a bulk, low-value intermediate product dominated by CHINA MAINLAND, which captured 85% of export value and 95% of weight, signaling extreme buyer concentration risk. The market faces potential supply constraints due to Indonesia's reduced mining quotas, urging buyers to secure long-term contracts or diversify sources. This analysis covers May 2025 and is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

Indonesia Nickel Matte (HS 7501) 2025 May Export Background

Indonesia’s nickel matte (HS Code 7501), which includes nickel oxide sinters and smelting intermediates, is critical for stainless steel and EV battery production, driving steady global demand. As of May 2025, Indonesia controls 60% of global nickel supply [Discovery Alert], but recent policies like the 2025 production quota cut to 150 million tons aim to prioritize higher-value exports [Carbon Credits]. This shift underscores Indonesia’s strategic role in shaping nickel matte export flows.

Indonesia Nickel Matte (HS 7501) 2025 May Export: Trend Summary

Key Observations

In May 2025, Indonesia's Nickel Matte exports experienced a notable volume surge of 32.7% month-over-month to 203.71 million units, while the unit price dropped by 7.5% to 3.20 USD/kg, indicating increased export activity amid price pressure.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The month-over-month increase in volume for HS Code 7501 reflects typical industry stock cycles, where producers may ramp up shipments ahead of anticipated policy changes or seasonal demand fluctuations. From April to May, the value rose by 22.7% despite the price decline, suggesting heightened export momentum. This pattern aligns with common nickel market behavior where volume expansions often precede price adjustments due to supply chain dynamics.

External Context and Outlook

Indonesia's recent policy shifts, including a significant reduction in nickel mining quotas [carboncredits.com], are driving uncertainty in supply chains, potentially explaining the volatile export trends. With no new bans on Nickel Matte exports as of May, but a continued push toward value-added processing (carboncredits.com), the outlook for Indonesia Nickel Matte Export remains cautious, with possible price stabilization as quota cuts take effect later in the year.

Indonesia Nickel Matte (HS 7501) 2025 May Export: HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In May 2025, Indonesia's export of HS Code 7501 is heavily dominated by Nickel oxide sinters and other intermediate products (sub-code 75012000), which account for over 90% of the weight exported and nearly three-quarters of the export value. This sub-code has a unit price of 2.58 USD per kilogram, while Nickel mattes (sub-code 75011000) stands out as a high-value anomaly with a unit price of 9.64 USD per kilogram, despite its smaller share in weight and value.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The market structure for Indonesia Nickel Matte Export under HS Code 7501 consists of two main categories: intermediate products like oxide sinters and raw or semi-finished nickel such as mattes. The significant unit price gap between these categories indicates a trade in differentiated goods rather than purely fungible commodities, with variations likely tied to processing stage or purity grade.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

Indonesia holds strong pricing power in high-volume intermediate nickel products, but the premium for nickel mattes suggests potential for value-added growth. This aligns with Indonesia's policy shift towards downstream processing, as reported by Discovery Alert, emphasizing higher-value exports to maximize returns from HS Code 7501.

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Indonesia Nickel Matte (HS 7501) 2025 May Export: Market Concentration

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

In May 2025, Indonesia's Nickel Matte export under HS Code 7501 was overwhelmingly dominated by CHINA MAINLAND, which accounted for 84.96% of the export value and 94.96% of the weight. The lower value ratio compared to weight ratio suggests that Nickel Matte is a bulk, lower-value commodity, with unit prices around 2.87 USD per kilogram, indicating its role as an intermediate product in the supply chain.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The export partners form two clear clusters: a primary cluster with CHINA MAINLAND, driven by its massive demand for nickel in stainless steel and battery production, and a secondary cluster with JAPAN, which imports smaller quantities likely for high-tech applications. The minimal presence of the UNITED KINGDOM points to niche or experimental uses, reflecting the specialized nature of nickel processing in smaller markets.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Market players should prepare for potential supply constraints due to Indonesia's policy shifts, such as the reduction in nickel mining quotas from 272 million tons to 150 million tons in 2025 [discoveryalert.com.au]. This could tighten global Nickel Matte availability, urging buyers to secure long-term contracts or explore alternative sources to mitigate risks in the Indonesia Nickel Matte Export 2025 May landscape.

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Indonesia Nickel Matte (HS 7501) 2025 May Export: Buyer Cluster

Buyer Market Concentration and Dominance

In May 2025, the Indonesia Nickel Matte Export (HS Code 7501) market shows extreme concentration, with buyers engaging in high-value and high-frequency transactions dominating 87.53% of the export value. This group, represented by companies like HUAYUE NICKEL COBALT and VALE INDONESIA TBK, accounts for nearly all trade activity, indicating a market driven by large, regular shipments. The overall buyer structure across four segments is skewed, with minimal participation from other types.

Strategic Buyer Clusters and Trade Role

The only other active segment consists of buyers with low-value and low-frequency purchases, contributing 12.47% of the value. These buyers, such as PT. NICOLE METAL INDUSTRY and PT. WALHSU METAL INDUSTRY, likely represent smaller or occasional customers, possibly for specialized or secondary processing needs. The absence of high-value low-frequency or low-value high-frequency buyers suggests that nickel matte trade is primarily bulk-oriented, with no significant spot or irregular large deals.

Sales Strategy and Vulnerability

For Indonesian exporters, the strategy must prioritize securing and nurturing relationships with the dominant high-value, high-frequency buyers to maintain revenue stability. The heavy reliance on this group poses a vulnerability to market shifts or buyer decisions, but it also offers efficiency in logistics and forecasting. Opportunities may lie in exploring niche markets represented by the smaller buyers. As per news, Indonesia's policy focus on value-added exports [Discovery Alert] supports this approach, emphasizing processed intermediates like nickel matte without new restrictions, reducing immediate risk but urging diversification for long-term resilience.

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Indonesia Nickel Matte (HS 7501) 2025 May Export: Action Plan for Nickel Matte Market Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

Indonesia's nickel matte export market under HS Code 7501 is defined by bulk intermediate goods with limited product differentiation. Price is primarily driven by quality grade variations and Indonesia's domestic policy shifts, including reduced mining quotas. The extreme buyer and geographic concentration creates significant supply chain risk. China's dominance as a processing hub for these materials makes global nickel supply highly dependent on Indonesian output and Sino-Indonesian trade relations.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Nickel Matte Market Execution

• Monitor Indonesian mining quota announcements monthly. Policy changes directly impact raw material availability and must guide inventory planning to avoid shortfalls.
• Analyze shipment data for Chinese buyers like HUAYUE NICKEL COBALT. Their high-volume purchases dictate market rhythm; tracking their order patterns enables accurate demand forecasting.
• Segment transactions by unit price within HS Code 7501. Identify consistent premium payments for specific sub-codes like nickel matte (75011000) to prioritize higher-margin product sales.
• Develop alternative sourcing strategies with smaller buyers in Japan. Their niche demand provides a secondary revenue stream, diversifying risk away from the dominant Chinese market.

Take Action Now —— Explore Indonesia Nickel Matte Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Indonesia Nickel Matte Export 2025 May?

The surge in export volume (32.7% MoM) and price drop (7.5%) reflect supply chain adjustments ahead of Indonesia’s nickel mining quota cuts, with exporters prioritizing bulk shipments of intermediate products like oxide sinters.

Q2. Who are the main partner countries in this Indonesia Nickel Matte Export 2025 May?

China dominates with 84.96% of export value, followed distantly by Japan, which imports smaller quantities likely for high-tech applications.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across Indonesia Nickel Matte Export 2025 May partner countries?

Prices vary by product grade: nickel mattes (sub-code 75011000) command a premium (9.64 USD/kg) versus bulk oxide sinters (2.58 USD/kg), reflecting differentiated processing stages.

Q4. What should exporters in Indonesia focus on in the current Nickel Matte export market?

Exporters must secure relationships with high-value, high-frequency buyers (87.53% of trade) like HUAYUE NICKEL COBALT, while exploring niche opportunities with smaller buyers to mitigate reliance on China.

Q5. What does this Indonesia Nickel Matte export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

Buyers face supply risks due to Indonesia’s quota cuts and should lock in long-term contracts, especially China’s bulk purchasers, while Japan’s niche demand may offer stability.

Q6. How is Nickel Matte typically used in this trade flow?

It serves as an intermediate product, primarily for stainless steel and battery production in China, with smaller volumes likely used in high-tech applications in Japan.

Q7. What is yTrade?

yTrade is a global trade data platform that provides SaaS and API access to provide accurate, structured, and searchable import-export trade data for international business decisions. It enables users to access verified shipment records, analyse buyer and supplier activity, review company trade overviews, assess compliance risks, and monitor real market demand — all from a single, scalable system.

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