Nickel hits two-year high as supply tightens amid global disruptions

8 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Apr 27

Nickel futures on the London Metal Exchange have surged about 10% since the Iran war began, reaching their highest intraday level in nearly two years.
Supply constraints stem from Indonesia’s mining quota cuts and a global sulfur shortage, which is also driving up sulfur prices and threatening mining operations worldwide.
Traders are closely monitoring the situation, especially after reports that Iran has proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz, as other base metals show mixed performance amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.

As the US and Iran clash, who truly controls the supply chain for green energy metals?

Could the Iran war's impact on sulfur supplies effectively shut down copper mining in Africa?

Nickel prices are soaring, but are hidden diesel shortages the bigger threat to mining operations?

Is Indonesia's nickel dominance a bigger long-term risk to the EV transition than the current war?

With the Strait of Hormuz blocked, what is the plan B for the global sulfur supply chain?

Will this supply crisis finally force a shift away from geographically concentrated mineral processing?