Nickel’s versatility and unique combination of properties make it ubiquitous in everyday life. It is both hard and malleable, resists corrosion, and retains its mechanical and physical characteristics even when subjected to extreme temperatures.

The white-gray metal that ultimately is produced from PT Inco’s matte product is known as “primary” nickel because it is derived from nickel ores.

Stainless steel currently accounts for about two-thirds of our annual Western World primary nickel consumption, up from 50 per cent a decade ago.

Approximately 76 per cent of Western World stainless steel production in recent years consists of austenitic, or nickel-bearing, grades. On average, austenitic stainless steels contain approximately 8-to-10 per cent nickel.