RE:I never realized nickel alloys are a big market Clean nickel flowing through Canada (including Wales and Norway) and Russia (including Finland) likely accounts for over 50% of the good stuff. Just a guess. The report you are pointing to focuses on nickel copper alloys but I am not sure if it includes the nickel super alloys. (Nickel-chromium-cobalt). Check out companies like Special Metals Corp (sold by INCO to Berkshire Hathaway in the 80's) and what they are forging at Huntington West Virginia and Wiggin Uk, which is physically located between Clydach Wales and Hefershford England. Haynes International, carpenter technology, etc. are others to have a look at.
70-80% of global nickel production reports to stainless. 18-8 stainless (18%Cr-8%) for example is mostly iron. Ferro nickel from Indonesia/Phillipines and Ferro Chromium from South Africa doesn't need to be clean because the end product is at least 70% iron. Not the case for industries that produce ultra pure super alloys.
About 6% of primary mined nickel production is coming from Canadian mines as opposed to 30% in Indonesia. However, there is not much difference between the $ value of finished production leaving each country.
Clean nickel for batteries, particularly ones that are blended with Li Hydroxide, is a new source of demand. MIxed hydroxide precipitate from Indonesia is part of the solution because with investment the material flow can be adapted to squeeze out more decent quality nickel products.
It is still unclear to me where a lot of this new nickel in the western world is going to come from. This may create additional tension between existing nickel super alloy markets and battery cathode markets.
The miners hold all the cards and will take thier sweet time gradually boosting output and bringing on line new mines. Dragging it out for several years so they can maximize returns on investment.
Not sure we will see $ 6-7 dollar nickel again any time soon, barring a painful global recession. We may not see $20 dollar nickel either because the battery chemistries will change real quick. Current prices are incentivizing new supply but again, they are going to take thier sweet time.