Ex-Enemy Countries
p. 131 · Read in the full issue
Nickel Needs Show Trends in Ex-Enemy Countries
Prom Our Noumea Correspondent OOME interesting nickel figures O have recently been released at Noumea. The French metro politan needs, in pure nickel, for 1954 were 7,000 tons; a year or two ago it was only 5,000 tons.
Germany’s nickel needs have nearly doubled—from 7,200 tons of pure nickel in 1953, to 13,000 tons in 1954.
Japan produced during 1954, 2,380 tons of pure nickel, and 2,500 tons ferro-nickel. The Japanese plan to place on their home market (and also the export market) during 1955 3,000 tons pure nickel, 2,600 tons ferro-nickel and 1,000 tons shot nickel (pellets of low grade nickel).
These figures explain the large ex portations of nickel ore going to Japan from New Caledonia.
It is interesting to note that since 1935, the price of nickel has risen only 85 per cent., whereas most other metals have become proportionally dearer—copper 300 per cent., lead 250 per cent,, mercury 250 per cent., zinc 180 per cent, and tin 120 per cent.
Only gold and aluminium have re mained comparatively stable.