Demand for nickel in China, the world's biggest consumer of the metal, may raise 62% by the end of the decade because of rising demand from stainless steelmakers.

Mr Zhang Mei of Ministry of Land and Resources information centre at a conference in Shanghai said that the demand for nickel will rise to 400,000 tonne in 2010 from 247,000 tonne in 2006. He added that imports accounted for 61% of the nation's demand last year and will rise to 66% in 2010.

Mr Zhang said that Chinas Domestic production of the nickel in 2010 may rise 71% from 2005 and that most of the new capacity will come from Jinchuan Group Corp, which supplies 90% of the China's nickel.