By David Fessler Many commodities have supply-and-demand surpluses and shortages.
Nickel is no exception.
It’s the fifth-most-common element on Earth. It occurs naturally in the form of oxides, sulfides and silicate minerals.
Nickel has many key roles in the industrial world. It has high strength, is corrosion resistant, is highly pliable, and has good thermal and electrical conductivity.
Stainless steel production accounts for two-thirds of all nickel use, but the metal has many other applications.
Today, battery manufacturing accounts for only 2% of all nickel produced. But that is about to change.
Electric vehicle manufacturers are beginning to replace the cobalt in their batteries with nickel.
Cobalt is rare and …read more
