Indonesian nickel refiner Harita seeks new buyers outside China

CATL supplier ramps up production with second battery material smelter

One of Harita Nickel's two High Pressure Acid Leach smelters on Obi island, North Maluku province, in eastern Indonesia. The second smelter began producing at full capacity for the first time last month. (Photo by Dimas Ardian)

ERWIDA MAULIA, Nikkei staff writer

September 27, 2024 09:26 JST

OBI ISLAND/JAKARTA - High-profile Indonesian nickel refiner Harita Nickel is seeking to diversify its customer base outside China as it ramps up output and cleans up its production process, according to its president director.

Roy Arman Arfandy told Nikkei Asia that the company was already "tapping the European market [and] Indian market through international traders" such as Switzerland-based Glencore and Japan's Itochu for both mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) and ferronickel -- feedstocks for EV batteries and stainless steel, respectively.