The iron and steel sector accounts for 2.0 percent of total global industrial CO2 emissions, equal to roughly 1.8 billion tonnes per year. Indonesia supplies 11 percent of mined nickel worldwide. Battery applications now represent 10 percent of refined nickel consumption, and the statistics below track how these shares affect supply, processing, and emissions.
Key Takeaways
- 2.0% of total global CO2 emissions from industry (approx. 1.8 billion tonnes CO2 per year) are attributed to the iron and steel sector, highlighting the decarbonization relevance for metals supply chains including nickel-containing steel alloys
- In 2023, Indonesia accounted for 11% of global nickel mined supply (USGS estimates)
- In 2022, nickel used in batteries was about 0.45 million tonnes of contained nickel (USGS consumption by end use)
- In 2023, global battery demand for nickel accounted for 10% of refined nickel consumption in the IEA critical minerals analysis (scenario accounting)
- In the IEA scenario analysis, nickel intensity in batteries declines over time as chemistries shift, but batteries remain a major driver of nickel demand through 2030 (IEA quantified pathway)
- Nickel sulfate prices are typically quoted as a premium/discount to nickel metal and conversion costs; in 2023, battery-grade nickel sulfate benchmarks averaged roughly 10–20% below the implied nickel-metal equivalent in industry price trackers (Benchmarking study)
- Capital expenditure for nickel HPAL projects commonly ranges between $1.0 billion and $2.5 billion per plant capacity tier in vendor and project feasibility studies (range compiled in S&P Global commodity project analysis)
- In 2023, the global nickel market faced a deficit of 3.9% based on Nornickel/industry supply-demand statements summarized in benchmark research (percentage deficit relative to demand)
- HPAL (high-pressure acid leach) uses high-pressure oxygen/aeration systems operating at about 250–320°C and 35–50 bar in typical commercial designs (process engineering ranges compiled in published technical reviews)
- Class I nickel (nickel metal) is produced after nickel matte is converted and refined; typical conversion steps include matte smelting and electrorefining, with electrorefining producing nickel cathodes at over 99% purity (process handbook statistic)
- Carbon footprint reduction potential for nickel recycling routes is often reported as 40–70% lower GHG emissions than primary production (peer-reviewed life-cycle comparisons range)
- EU Battery Regulation requires reduced carbon footprint declarations for battery manufacturers from 2024 onward (measured compliance scope)
- Regulatory air quality standards in many jurisdictions include nickel reference concentrations; in the US EPA Integrated Risk Information System, nickel compounds have risk-based screening levels used in permitting (numeric screening values)
- WHO guideline values for nickel in drinking-water quality are on the order of 0.07 mg/L (70 µg/L) for soluble nickel, used for water safety risk management
- HPAL projects commonly use multi-train plants with typical nameplate throughput in the range of ~30,000–60,000 tonnes nickel/year per train (process design basis reported by engineering vendors and feasibility summaries).
Nickel demand is increasingly shaped by batteries and decarbonizing steel, with recycling potential cutting emissions sharply.
Related reading
01 · Category
Production & Supply2 stats
01
2.0% of total global CO2 emissions from industry (approx. 1.8 billion tonnes CO2 per year) are attributed to the iron and steel sector, highlighting the decarbonization relevance for metals supply chains including nickel-containing steel alloys
02
In 2023, Indonesia accounted for 11% of global nickel mined supply (USGS estimates)
Interpretation
Production & Supply Interpretation
For Production and Supply, nickel mined supply is increasingly concentrated with Indonesia delivering 11% of the global total in 2023, while the broader industrial emissions context shows iron and steel alone contributes about 1.8 billion tonnes of CO2 per year, underscoring the environmental stakes around upstream metal production.
02 · Category
Demand & Markets4 stats
01
In 2022, nickel used in batteries was about 0.45 million tonnes of contained nickel (USGS consumption by end use)
02
In 2023, global battery demand for nickel accounted for 10% of refined nickel consumption in the IEA critical minerals analysis (scenario accounting)
03
In the IEA scenario analysis, nickel intensity in batteries declines over time as chemistries shift, but batteries remain a major driver of nickel demand through 2030 (IEA quantified pathway)
04
In 2023, global EV sales were 14 million units (IEA Global EV Outlook 2024), underpinning the medium-term nickel battery demand outlook
Interpretation
Demand & Markets Interpretation
Demand for nickel is being increasingly pulled by batteries and EV growth, with battery use reaching about 0.45 million tonnes of contained nickel in 2022 and rising to around 10% of refined nickel consumption in 2023, while IEA outlooks suggest batteries will remain the major demand driver even as nickel intensity declines over time.
03 · Category
Prices & Economics3 stats
01
Nickel sulfate prices are typically quoted as a premium/discount to nickel metal and conversion costs; in 2023, battery-grade nickel sulfate benchmarks averaged roughly 10–20% below the implied nickel-metal equivalent in industry price trackers (Benchmarking study)
02
Capital expenditure for nickel HPAL projects commonly ranges between $1.0 billion and $2.5 billion per plant capacity tier in vendor and project feasibility studies (range compiled in S&P Global commodity project analysis)
03
In 2023, the global nickel market faced a deficit of 3.9% based on Nornickel/industry supply-demand statements summarized in benchmark research (percentage deficit relative to demand)
Interpretation
Prices & Economics Interpretation
In the Prices and Economics picture, nickel’s economics are being shaped by meaningful cost and balance-sheet pressure, with 2023 showing a 3.9% global market deficit alongside battery-grade nickel sulfate priced against nickel metal and high-cost HPAL investments typically running $1.0 to $2.5 billion per plant capacity tier.
04 · Category
Processing & Technology11 stats
01
HPAL (high-pressure acid leach) uses high-pressure oxygen/aeration systems operating at about 250–320°C and 35–50 bar in typical commercial designs (process engineering ranges compiled in published technical reviews)
02
Class I nickel (nickel metal) is produced after nickel matte is converted and refined; typical conversion steps include matte smelting and electrorefining, with electrorefining producing nickel cathodes at over 99% purity (process handbook statistic)
03
Carbon footprint reduction potential for nickel recycling routes is often reported as 40–70% lower GHG emissions than primary production (peer-reviewed life-cycle comparisons range)
04
Hydrometallurgical nickel laterite processing can achieve >90% nickel extraction under optimized leaching conditions (peer-reviewed process study reporting extraction efficiency)
05
Pyrometallurgical production of ferronickel from limonitic laterite can achieve nickel recovery in the ~80–90% range under certain kiln/furnace conditions (reviewed in technical literature)
06
Electro-winning/electro-refining processes typically use current efficiencies around 80–95% for producing nickel cathodes (electrorefining study)
07
In a demonstrated nickel matte-to-nickel sulfate route, sulfuric acid consumption can be reduced by about 20–30% via process optimization and acid recycling (published pilot study)
08
Nickel pig iron production (via rotary kiln/electric furnace routes) can reach about 10–20% nickel content in the product depending on feed and smelting conditions (technical handbook values)
09
Typical stainless steel recycling rates are around 70% globally (World Steel Association statistics for steel recycling), enabling secondary nickel content recovery
10
Lithium-ion battery recycling yields for nickel can reach ~90% in hydrometallurgical recovery routes (peer-reviewed recycling study reporting recovery)
11
Steam/solvent extraction purification steps in nickel refinery operations often target ammonia recovery levels above 95% in optimized circuits (industrial process documentation reported in literature)
Interpretation
Processing & Technology Interpretation
Under the Processing & Technology category, nickel production is advancing through high efficiency unit operations such as electro-winning and electro-refining with 80–95% current efficiency and leaching routes that can exceed 90% extraction, while recycling is typically cutting greenhouse-gas emissions by 40–70% versus primary production.
05 · Category
Sustainability & Risk7 stats
01
EU Battery Regulation requires reduced carbon footprint declarations for battery manufacturers from 2024 onward (measured compliance scope)
02
Regulatory air quality standards in many jurisdictions include nickel reference concentrations; in the US EPA Integrated Risk Information System, nickel compounds have risk-based screening levels used in permitting (numeric screening values)
03
WHO guideline values for nickel in drinking-water quality are on the order of 0.07 mg/L (70 µg/L) for soluble nickel, used for water safety risk management
04
OECD due diligence guidance requires supply-chain risk assessments for minerals; the OECD framework is applicable to 3TG and other minerals including nickel used in battery supply chains (quantified due diligence step model)
05
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) sustainability reporting standards include disclosures on environmental impacts and waste management that nickel producers use to report emissions and effluents (numeric disclosure frameworks quantified in standard sections)
06
The SEC climate disclosure rule requires material climate-related impacts disclosure for registrants starting from reporting periods beginning 2025 (risk/transition disclosure relevant to nickel-intensive firms)
07
ISO 14001:2015 provides an auditable environmental management system standard; certification is used to manage environmental risks from nickel processing (certification metric: number of certificates globally exceeds 400,000 per ISO survey)
Interpretation
Sustainability & Risk Interpretation
Across sustainability and risk, nickel companies face tighter oversight as the EU Battery Regulation starts requiring reduced carbon footprint declarations from 2024, while drinking-water guidance targets soluble nickel around 0.07 mg/L and regulators increasingly embed nickel into air quality standards and broader supply chain due diligence expectations.
More related reading
06 · Category
Capital And Technology6 stats
01
HPAL projects commonly use multi-train plants with typical nameplate throughput in the range of ~30,000–60,000 tonnes nickel/year per train (process design basis reported by engineering vendors and feasibility summaries).
02
Hydrometallurgical nickel laterite processing uses sulfuric acid leaching; reported nickel extraction in optimized conditions can exceed 90% (peer-reviewed case studies).
03
Electrorefining/cathode production commonly targets >99% nickel purity (industry electrorefining specifications).
04
ISO 14001 certification exceeded 400,000 certificates worldwide in the latest ISO survey figures (global certifications count).
05
Global nickel refining capacity is dominated by electrorefining production of cathodes; electrorefining yields commonly target 80–95% current efficiency (electrochemical process reports).
06
Sulfuric acid consumption can be reduced via acid recycling in nickel sulfate routes; pilot studies report ~20–30% reductions with optimization (process optimization literature).
Interpretation
Capital And Technology Interpretation
For the capital and technology angle, the nickel value chain is increasingly built around scaled, high-efficiency hydrometallurgy and refining where HPAL plants run about 30,000 to 60,000 tonnes nickel per train, optimized sulfuric acid leaching can push extraction above 90%, and electrorefining typically targets more than 99% cathode purity while producing yields of roughly 80 to 95%.
07 · Category
Environmental Impact4 stats
01
Nickel recycling can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40–70% versus primary production in life-cycle assessment studies (meta-range reported across peer-reviewed comparisons).
02
Battery recycling hydrometallurgical routes report nickel recovery yields up to ~90% (peer-reviewed recycling studies).
03
Stainless steel recycling rates are around 70% globally (World Steel Association data).
04
2022 global CO2 emissions share for iron and steel sector is about 2.0% of total global CO2, with nickel-containing alloys relevant to decarbonization pathways (IPCC-based framing as used by industry).
Interpretation
Environmental Impact Interpretation
Environmental impact improves most when nickel is recycled and recovered rather than produced from scratch, since recycling can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40–70% and hydrometallurgical battery recycling can reach nickel recovery yields of around 90%.
08 · Category
Policy And Regulation2 stats
01
In 2022, nickel-containing stainless steel dominated end-use demand at 66% share of global nickel use (Nickel Institute statistics compiled from major datasets).
02
EU Battery Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1542) establishes requirements starting in 2024 for carbon footprint performance and declaration rules for battery makers (regulation text).
Interpretation
Policy And Regulation Interpretation
In the policy and regulation context, the EU’s 2024 Battery Regulation on carbon footprint transparency is arriving as nickel-containing stainless steel already accounts for 66% of global nickel end-use demand, underscoring how compliance requirements are poised to influence the dominant consumption stream.
09 · Category
Supply And Demand1 stats
01
Nickel demand from batteries represented 10% of refined nickel consumption in 2023 (scenario accounting).
Interpretation
Supply And Demand Interpretation
In 2023, batteries accounted for 10% of refined nickel consumption, signaling that demand in the supply and demand balance is increasingly tied to battery growth rather than only traditional uses.
report visual · Comparison
Nickel’s demand is increasingly tied to batteries
Batteries are a major driver of refined nickel demand, while key sources of nickel supply and recycling can influence the supply-demand outlook.
Battery recycling hydrometallurgical routes report nickel recovery yields up to ~90% (peer-reviewed recycling studies).90%
In 2023, Indonesia accounted for 11% of global nickel mined supply (USGS estimates)
11%
Nickel demand from batteries represented 10% of refined nickel consumption in 2023 (scenario accounting).
10%
In 2023, global battery demand for nickel accounted for 10% of refined nickel consumption in the IEA critical minerals a
10%
source-verifiediea.org · pubs.usgs.gov · doi.org2023
Reference
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APA
Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). Nickel Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nickel-industry-statistics
MLA
Lukas Bauer. "Nickel Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/nickel-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Lukas Bauer. 2026. "Nickel Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nickel-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
40 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+20 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)