Abstract: The global nickel ore reserves are abundant, of which the supply and demand are basically stable. Although there is still room for the growth in global nickel consumption in the future, the rise of global trade protectionism may reduce the driving force. In 2017, the global nickel trade is still shrinking. China is always the largest importer of nickel metal, while Russia, Canada and Norway are the largest exporters of nickel metal. The nickel resources are relatively scarce in China, and refined nickel production is relatively concentrated. Due to the impact of the international mining crisis and domestic supply-side reforms, China's nickel consumption is in an adjustment period in recent years. In 2017, the imported nickel ore and concentrate increased by 9.0% compared with the status in 2016, and gradually stepped out of the impact of the mining crisis. It is expected that this trend will continue in the future.