en.Wedoany.com Reported - Brazil's Vale reported a 12.3% year-on-year increase in nickel production for the first quarter of 2026, reaching 49,300 tonnes, marking the highest first-quarter level since 2020. This growth was driven by stable operations and performance improvements at key mining and refining assets, reinforcing the ongoing expansion trend in global nickel supply.

The rise in output primarily stemmed from the strong performance of the Voisey's Bay mine, which produced 10,500 tonnes for the quarter, and Onça Puma achieving its best first-quarter production of 8,900 tonnes following the commissioning of Furnace 2. Sudbury operations showed slight improvement despite maintenance disruptions, while Thompson's production declined due to weather-related pipeline constraints.

During the same period, nickel sales increased by 15.2% year-on-year to 44,800 tonnes but remained below production levels, as the company strategically built up inventories in anticipation of demand during planned refinery maintenance in the second quarter.

The continued expansion of Vale's nickel operations highlights stable upstream supply conditions, providing incremental supply to the global market. Concurrently, growing output from Indonesia further reinforces broader supply-side pressure.

Looking ahead, nickel supply is expected to remain robust in the near term, supported by operational stability and capacity expansions. However, planned maintenance at key facilities may lead to temporary fluctuations in output, with prices likely to remain range-bound, underpinned by fundamental cost support.

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