Norilsk makes 17% of the world’s “Class 1” nickel, which is more suitable for batteries and can be sourced in large quantities from only a few other locations.
Copper price hits 19-week high and nickel scales $25,000 for the first time since 2011 as European traders are forced to look as far afield as Malaysia for deliverable metal.
Government agencies have been ordered to push state-owned buyers to scour markets for materials including oil and gas, iron ore, barley and corn to fill any potential gaps.
A report by IDTechEx estimates that there will be 18.7 million units in electric vehicle fleets on the road by 2032, which explains the current ramp-up of charging infrastructure.