In this article, we discuss the 5 biggest nickel mining companies in the world. To read the detailed industry analysis, you can go directly to the 10 Biggest Nickel Mining Companies in the World.
5. Anglo American plc (OTC:NGLOY)
Production in 2021: 41.7 Kilotonnes
Anglo American plc (OTC:NGLOY) is a British metals and mining company. It is one of the biggest nickel mining companies in the world and the world’s largest platinum producer. It provides around 40% of the global platinum.
In the first half of 2022, Anglo American plc (OTC:NGLOY) produced 20 kilotonnes of nickel and expects its 2022 production to be in line with the previous year between the range of 40 to 42 kilotonnes. The company produces two types of nickel. Its assets in Brazil produce ferronickel and South African operations produce nickel sulfate as a by-product.
Anglo American plc (OTC:NGLOY) produced 41.7 kilotonnes of nickel in 2021. The base metal generated a revenue of $710 million for the company, compared to $534 million in 2020. The company owns 100% of the mines of Barro Alto and Niquelândia. Both of them have a combined Run-of-Mine of 54.2 million tonnes. The Barro Alto has a 20-year mine life left while Niquelândia is expected to exhaust in 13 years.
4. BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP)
Production in 2021: 89 Kilotonnes
BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP) is an Australian metals and mining company that also produces natural gas and petroleum products. It is the largest mining company in the world by market capitalization.
BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP) produced 89 kilotonnes of nickel in 2021. The company’s nickel production has seen a decline over the years. It produced 176.2 kilotonnes of nickel in 2010 which declined by almost 60% in 2021. In the September quarter, BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP) produced 20.7 kilotonnes of nickel, showing a 16% increase from the previous year’s September quarter. BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP) also provided its full-year 2023 production guidance which is between 80 to 90 kilotonnes.
According to our database, Fisher Asset Management was the largest shareholder of BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP) in the third quarter of 2022. The firm owned 17.6 million company shares, worth $881.244 million.
3. Glencore plc (OTC:GLNCY)
Production in 2021: 102.3 Kilotonnes
Glencore plc (OTC:GLNCY) is a Swiss metals and mining company and commodity trading company. It is one of the largest companies in the world. The company also produces agriculture products and has a specific headquarter in the Netherlands.
In 2021, Glencore plc (OTC:GLNCY) produced 102.3 kilotonnes of nickel, down 7% from 2020. The production was affected due to the maintenance shutdown of the Murrin Murrin mines. Moreover, in the first half of 2022, Glencore plc (OTC:GLNCY) produced 57,800 kilotonnes of nickel, a 21% increase from the same period in 2021.
Glencore plc (OTC:GLNCY)’s full-year nickel production guidance remains between the range of 113 to 123 kilotonnes.
2. Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE)
Production in 2021: 168 Kilotonnes
Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE) is a Brazilian multinational metals and mining company. Its one of the largest nickel and iron producers in the world and also produces manganese, ferroalloys, copper, bauxite, potash, kaolin, and cobalt. Furthermore, the company operates nine hydroelectricity plants and is the largest logistics operator in Brazil.
In 2021, Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE) produced 168 kilotonnes of nickel from its mines in Canada, Brazil, and Indonesia and grabbed the second spot among the largest nickel mining companies in the world. In the third quarter of 2022, the company produced 51,800 tonnes of nickel, representing a 71.5% increase year-over-year. However, the company’s revenues from nickel dropped in the quarter as the average realized price tonne dropped to $21,672 from $26,221 in the first quarter.
Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE) expects its FY 2022 nickel production to be between 175 to 190 kilotonnes. Moreover, the company is working on initiating two new projects by 2025 that have a per annum capacity of 85 to 88 kilotonnes. Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE) expects its nickel production to surpass 300 kilotonnes by 2030.
1. OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (LSE:MNOD)
Production in 2021: 193 Kilotonnes
OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (LSE:MNOD) is a Russian mining and smelting company and is the world’s largest nickel mining company. Its main products include nickel and palladium. The company also mines copper, gold, silver, and platinum along with a few other metals. The company’s most significant production comes from its Siberian mine located in Norilsk and Talnakh. OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (LSE:MNOD) also has operations in Russia, Finland, and South Africa.
In 2021, NickelOJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (LSE:MNOD) produced 193 kilotonnes of nickel. Moreover, the company was responsible for 17% of the global high-grade nickel production and 6% of primary nickel. OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (LSE:MNOD)’s proven and probable reserves amount to 8.7 million tonnes while the measured and indicated resources are expected to be 13.5 million tonnes.
For FY2022, OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (LSE:MNOD) guided its nickel production to be in the range of 205 to 215 kilotonnes and expects a nickel surplus of 103 kilotonnes in 2023, due to new production capacity in Indonesia.
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