Nickel
EU import reliance for processed nickel is 75%. Indonesia mines about two thirds of the world’s nickel.
Figures
Nickel in four figures
EU import reliance
75%
net imports as a share of EU apparent consumption
Source: European Commission, 2023 study (2016 to 2020)
World mining
67%
Indonesia’s share of world nickel mining, 2025
Source: USGS 2026
Main EU source
29%
Russia, for processed nickel. Next is Finland with 17%.
Source: European Commission, 2023 study (2016 to 2020)
EU demand
257kt
of processed nickel a year, 2016 to 2020
Source: SCRREEN, nickel factsheet
Data as of 27 October 2026
Supply in Europe
Europe’s own supply
EU capacity as a share of EU nickel demand, 2016 to 2020.
- EU demand100%
- EU extraction capacityAbout 16%
- EU processing capacityAbout 23%
- EU recycling capacityAbout 16%
One grain is 1% of EU nickel demand. Source: European Court of Auditors, Special report 04/2026; SCRREEN. Extraction and processing 2016 to 2020, recycling 2012 to 2016
Outlook
What comes next
- EU Strategic Projects
- Twelve nickel projects joined the list in October 2026. The Commission says the 106 projects could fully meet the 2030 extraction benchmark for nickel.
- Recycled content
- Minimum shares of recycled nickel in batteries: 6% from August 2031, 15% from August 2036.
- EU imports
- €3.9bn in 2025. Russia supplied 25%.
Sources: European Commission, selections of March 2025, June 2025 and October 2026; summed by Hercinia; EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2023/1542; Eurostat Comext
Origin
Where nickel comes from
Use
Where nickel is used
Electric car
About
40kg
of nickel in a 75 kWh NMC battery
Source: IEA, The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions (2021)
Batteries
Over
1.5TWh
of battery demand worldwide in 2025, up more than 35% on 2024
Source: IEA 2026
Events
Events and measures
- Oct 2026
- European Union
Twelve nickel projects join the list of Strategic Projects.
Source: European Commission, selections of March 2025, June 2025 and October 2026; summed by Hercinia
- Aug 2023
- European Union
Battery Regulation enters into force. From August 2031, EV and industrial batteries must contain at least 6% recycled nickel.
Source: EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2023/1542
- European Commission, Study on the critical raw materials for the EU (2023)
- European Court of Auditors, Special report 04/2026, Critical raw materials for the energy transition
- USGS, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
- IEA, Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026
- SCRREEN, nickel factsheet
- IEA, The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions (2021)
- European Commission, press release IP/26/2113, 9 October 2026
- EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 (Battery Regulation)
- Eurostat Comext, extra-EU imports 2025
