Global nickel mine production 2023, by country

In 2023, Indonesia's mines produced an estimated 1.8 million metric tons of nickel. This figure makes Indonesia the leading producer of nickel from mines worldwide by a large margin.

Nickel mine production worldwide

Indonesia’s production of nickel from mines has grown considerably in recent years, increasing by more than six-fold since 2010. The country’s nickel mine output accounted for about half of global nickel production in 2023. As the second-leading nickel producer, the Philippines produced an estimated 400,000 metric tons of the metal that same year. Russia, which ranked as fourth-largest nickel producer in 2023, is also home to the largest nickel mines in the world in terms of production volume.

Uses of nickel

Nickel is a lustrous, silvery-white metallic element, and the fifth most common element on earth. Thanks to its resistance to corrosion and oxidation, as well as its high melting point, nickel sees extensive application in the production of stainless steel and metal alloys. Nickel has also become critical in the production of batteries, where it is an essential component of some lithium-ion battery chemistries. In fact, the demand for nickel for use in batteries is expected to grow considerably over the next two decades.