TABLE 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. CONSUMPTION OF NICKEL, BY USE1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(Metric tons of contained nickel) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | Grand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Oxide and | Other | Total | Secondary | Grand | total in | |||||||||||||||||
Use | Metal | Ferronickel | oxide sinter | Chemicals | forms | primary | (scrap) | total | 2012 | |||||||||||||
Consumption reported: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Cast irons2 | 54 | -- | -- | -- | 2 | 56 | 202 | 258 | 2,130 | |||||||||||||
Chemicals and chemical uses | 1,390 | -- | (3) | 622 | -- | 2,020 | -- | 2,020 | 1,670 | |||||||||||||
Electric, magnet, expansion alloys | 216 | W | -- | 34 | -- | 250 | (3) | 250 | 2,090 | r | ||||||||||||
Electroplating, sales to platers | 8,430 | -- | -- | W | (3) | 8,430 | -- | 8,430 | 9,330 | r | ||||||||||||
Nickel-copper and copper-nickel alloys | W | -- | 1 | -- | 22 | 23 | 1,260 | 1,280 | 5,530 | r | ||||||||||||
Other nickel and nickel alloys | 16,300 | 80 | 5 | -- | 43 | 16,400 | W | 16,400 | 22,600 | r | ||||||||||||
Steel: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Stainless and heat resistant | 33,800 | 12,900 | 81 | -- | 72 | 46,800 | 78,300 | 125,000 | 126,000 | r | ||||||||||||
Alloys, excludes stainless | 3,830 | 96 | -- | -- | -- | 3,930 | 1,640 | 5,560 | 5,080 | r | ||||||||||||
Superalloys | 25,000 | 120 | -- | 1 | 1,430 | 26,600 | W | 26,600 | 26,600 | r | ||||||||||||
Other4 | 6,890 | 1,980 | 121 | 134 | 228 | 9,350 | 7,430 | 16,800 | 5,550 | r | ||||||||||||
Total | 95,900 | 15,100 | 209 | 791 | 1,800 | 114,000 | 88,800 | 203,000 | 207,000 | r | ||||||||||||
rRevised. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with -Other.- -- Zero. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2Under investigation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
3Less than - unit. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
4Includes batteries, catalysts, ceramics, coinage, other alloys containing nickel, and data indicated by symbol W. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Mineral commodity prices