A surprise jump in stainless steel production this year in China, the world''s biggest nickel user, may reignite a rally in nickel prices as investors shift focus to demand from worries over Philippine supply.

China''s output of nickel-bearing stainless steel, which uses more nickel than overall stainless steel, during January to July surged to 11.201 million tonnes, up 10 percent from the same period in 2015, according to UBS. Overall stainless steel output for the first seven months of 2016 was 8 percent higher than a year ago at 13.639 million tonnes, UBS said.

A forecast released in February by UK steel consultancy MEPS for Chinese output called for only a 1.7 per cent increase.

不锈钢展-2017第十八届广州国际不锈钢工业展-效果最好的不锈钢展会-The 17th China(Guangzhou)Int''l Stainless Steel Industry Exhibition