镍市场：面临政策风险和供应过剩担忧

Core Viewpoint - The global nickel market is entering 2026 with mixed signals, as prices remain firm due to anticipated supply tightening from Indonesia, but broader industry forecasts indicate structural oversupply that may limit sustained price increases [1] Group 1: Supply and Demand Dynamics - Nickel futures prices reached $16,765 per ton as of the week ending January 2, marking a nearly 7% weekly increase, driven more by policy sentiment than changes in demand fundamentals [1] - A key question remains whether global nickel supply and demand can achieve balance as the market moves forward into 2026 [1] Group 2: Indonesian Policy Uncertainty - Indonesia is considering reducing its 2026 nickel ore production quota to approximately 250 million wet tons, significantly lower than the 379 million wet tons target for 2025, which has boosted recent price sentiment [2] - However, market participants note that the finalization of these quotas may take time, and the implementation risks remain high, viewing the proposed cuts as more of a sentiment support rather than a substantial tightening of supply [2] Group 3: Supply Overhang from NPI Expansion - Despite policy discussions, Indonesia's nickel supply surplus is primarily supported by rapid capacity expansion in nickel pig iron (NPI) and intermediate products [3] - Industrial centers like Morowali and Weda Bay continue to expand and optimize existing smelting capacities, ensuring ample nickel supply and exacerbating the structural oversupply situation [3] Group 4: Price Outlook and Forecasts - Major financial institutions maintain a cautious outlook on nickel prices amid oversupply conditions [4] - The World Bank forecasts nickel prices to be around $15,500 per ton in 2026, with a slight increase to $16,000 per ton in 2027 [5] - Goldman Sachs emphasizes that profits of Indonesian producers are a key volatility factor, predicting prices will drop to $14,500 per ton by the end of 2026 [6] - Nornickel predicts a surplus of approximately 275,000 tons in 2026, reinforcing expectations of continued price pressure, while ING forecasts average prices to remain around $15,250 per ton due to high inventories and sluggish demand [7] Group 5: Overall Market Outlook - Although discussions around Indonesian policies inject volatility and short-term support for nickel prices, the overall outlook for 2026 remains influenced by structural oversupply [8] - Unless there is a significant slowdown in supply growth or an acceleration in demand from the stainless steel and battery sectors, nickel prices are likely to remain range-bound with limited upside potential [8]