METALSGOWHERE ATLAS · SUPPLY RESEARCH
Nickel mine supply disruptions
As of 2026-11-03 · Observation periods are shown separately.
As of 2026-11-03
3.40% of 2024 world mine output
What makes up the YTD total
Estimated mine-production loss · Each bar is a share of the same YTD total.
Event status and periods
Event periods, not measured daily losses. Full source dates appear beneath each lane.
Counted this year
- Weda Bay mine in care and maintenance after reaching its initial 2026 RKAB quota
2026-05-31 → 2026-09-10
- ENC HPAL held near 30% of nameplate on water availability
2026-09-15 → ongoing
Smelter-side events · separate (2)
- Nickel Industries RKEF output cut to about three-quarters of nameplate on water shortage
2026-10-01 → ongoing
- Hengjaya Nickel: one RKEF line in planned overhaul for about four months
2026-06-30 → 2026-10-31
Earlier structural halts · excluded (1)
- BHP Nickel West in temporary suspension since December 2024
2024-12-01 → ongoing
Current conditions
- Current annualised impact
- 14.4 kt
- Ongoing events
- 1
The annualised figure is a current rate, not a full-year forecast. Do not add it to the YTD total.
As of 2026-11-03 · Denominator: 3.71 Mt · USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, world mine production 2024, metal content
Counted this year
Swipe horizontally to see the full table.
| Event | Period | Confirmation and quantity basis | YTD impact | Annualised if ongoing | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weda Bay mine in care and maintenance after reaching its initial 2026 RKAB quota | 2026-05-31 → 2026-09-10 | Resumed Model estimate | 124.4 kt | — | Primary source |
| ENC HPAL held near 30% of nameplate on water availability | 2026-09-15 → ongoing | Confirmed, in force Model estimate | 1.9 kt | 14.4 kt | Primary source |
Smelter-side events
Listed separately: the denominator is mine production.
Swipe horizontally to see the full table.
| Event | Period | Confirmation and quantity basis | YTD impact | Annualised if ongoing | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickel Industries RKEF output cut to about three-quarters of nameplate on water shortage | 2026-10-01 → ongoing | Confirmed, in force Model estimate | 2.8 kt | 31.2 kt | Primary source |
| Hengjaya Nickel: one RKEF line in planned overhaul for about four months | 2026-06-30 → 2026-10-31 | Confirmed, in force Model estimate | 2.5 kt | — | Primary source |
Structural halts begun before last year
Shown for context; not in the year-to-date figure.
Swipe horizontally to see the full table.
| Event | Period | Confirmation and quantity basis | YTD impact | Annualised if ongoing | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHP Nickel West in temporary suspension since December 2024 | 2024-12-01 → ongoing | Confirmed, in force Model estimate | 68.4 kt | 81.6 kt | Primary source |
Recent months
Recalculated using current information · YTD impact at each month end, or the date shown above for the current month. Not a then-known forecast; YTD resets in January.
- 2026-09124.9 kt
- 2026-10126.2 kt
- 2026-11126.3 kt
Swipe horizontally to see the full table.
| Month | YTD impact | Share of reference-year world output | Annualised impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09 | 124.9 kt | 3.37% | 14.4 kt |
| 2026-10 | 126.2 kt | 3.40% | 14.4 kt |
| 2026-11 | 126.3 kt | 3.40% | 14.4 kt |
How this is counted
- Confirmation refers to the event, not to measured lost tonnes. Quantity rows distinguish model estimates from company-disclosed impacts; media-only reports are shown separately.
- Estimated impact = annual production basis ÷ 365 × affected share × days in force. It stops accruing on the disclosed restart or restriction end date; this is not observed market shortage.
- Structural halts that began before last year are listed separately and kept out of the year-to-date figure; smelter-side events are listed separately from mine-side events.
- The denominator is world mine production in the explicitly stated USGS reference year. Cobalt compares an export-quota restriction with the production baseline: it is not mine output lost, a stock change or measured export shortfall.
- Current annualised impact is a rate at today's conditions, not a full-year forecast. Do not add it to the year-to-date quantity.
Source: metalsgowhere.com, as of 2026-11-03. Citation & data use