Kinshasa, September 17th, 2026 (CPA).– The price per tonne of nickel, an export commodity of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), fell by 0.64 per cent on the international market, trading at USD 14,805.47 on September 14th, compared with USD 14,901.50 the previous week, according to price lists from the Ministry of Foreign Trade consulted by the CPA on Thursday.
“The price of a tonne of nickel fell on international markets during the week of 14 to 19 September 2026, trading at US$14,805.47 compared with US$14,901.50 the previous week, representing a decline of 0.64 per cent per tonne,” we have read .
The rise, fall and stability in the prices of marketable mining products, has explained the document, are driven by supply and demand on international markets as well as by the supply chain. These fluctuations have a direct impact on the Congolese economy, which is heavily dependent on raw material exports, particularly in the mining sector. It should be good to remeber that nickel is used primarily in the manufacture of stainless steel due to its strength and corrosion resistance, but it is also essential in the production of batteries for electric vehicles and for aerospace and medical applications.
Furthermore, at the start of the 21st century, nickel is extracted from two types of ore: laterites and sulphides.
However, although 70 per cent of nickel reserves consist of lateritic ores, these account for only 40 per cent of global production. Lateritic ores are mainly used for the production of ferronickel, whilst sulphide ores are generally used for the production of high-purity nickel. Whether lateritic or sulphide, nickel ores are mined as soon as their nickel content exceeds 1.3 per cent.
This low grade explains the complexity and diversity of the processes involved, which are determined by the nature of the ore’s gangue [E 2], as well as by the quality of nickel required at the end of the extraction process.
Global nickel production is dominated by Indonesia, Australia, Brazil and the Philippines. Nickel is a versatile metal valued for its strength, corrosion resistance and ability to withstand extreme temperatures. It is mainly used in the production of stainless steel and in a wide range of industries and everyday consumer products. CPA