Web Alert: Nickel Ore - Philippines tightens supply / Indonesia relaxes ban

The club understands that in a bid to clamp down on environmental degradation, the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has ordered to close 23 of the country’s 41 nickel ore mines, amounting to almost 50% of the Philippines’ nickel ore production (10% of global supply). Members with ships loading nickel ore in the Philippines are recommended to ensure that the cargo to be shipped is legal and loading is not from any of the mines mentioned in the attached list.

Interestingly, this comes around the same time when Indonesia has indicated relaxation on its ore export ban that had previously been in place. Indonesia’s miners will be permitted to bring their ore to market on a number of conditions, including 1) they commit at least 30% of smelting capacity to processing lower grade ores, and 2) foreign owned miners and exporters are obliged to sell 51% of their stocks to the government or a domestically owned enterprise within 10 years.

Members are recommended to refer to the club’s Standard Cargo publication.