According to the latest data released by the Brazilian Institute of Non-ferrous Metals (ICZ), the country's nickel production, which was 43,136 mt in 2011, amounted to 66,272 mt in 2012, up 53.6 percent year on year.

In 2012, Brazil exported 72.6 percent of its total nickel output, while the country's nickel exports doubled compared to 2011, totaling 38,657 mt. Meanwhile, in 2012 nickel sales to the Brazilian domestic market including imports amounted to 18,213 mt, decreasing by 7.8 percent compared to 2011.