nickel: resolving supply chain constraints

28
Resolving supply constraints – changes in the industry and what this means for producers and prices April 2013 Jim Lennon Macquarie Capital Securities (Europe) Ltd +44 203 037 4271 [email protected] In preparing this research, we did not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of the reader. Before making an investment decision on the basis of this research, the reader needs to consider, with or without the assistance of an adviser, whether the advice is appropriate in light of their particular investment needs, objectives and financial circumstances. Please see disclaimer. Page 1

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Jim Lennon, Chairman, Macquaries Capital Securities about changes in the Nickel industry. Jim will be speaking at New Caledonia Nickel, held on the 1- 5 July 2013. For more information on the conference, please visit www.newcaledonianickel.com

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Page 1: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Resolving supply constraints – changes in the industry and what this

means for producers and prices

April 2013

Jim Lennon

Macquarie Capital Securities (Europe) Ltd

+44 203 037 4271

[email protected]

In preparing this research, we did not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of the reader. Before making an investment decision on the basis of this research, the reader needs to consider, with or without the assistance of an adviser, whether the advice is appropriate in light of their particular investment needs, objectives and financial circumstances. Please see disclaimer.

Page 1

Page 2: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

The changing face of the nickel market – meeting Chinese demand Huge requirements for new capacity driven by explosion in Chinese demand since 2000 Nickel shortage in 2006/07 led to price explosion and three “solutions”:

Massive growth in use of 200-series stainless steel (1-2% Ni) as a substitute for 300-series stainless steel (8-9% Ni)

Processing of low-grade laterite nickel ores into nickel pig iron in China as a substitute for conventional nickel units

Allocation of over $30bn by non-Chinese industry to expand production

Historically (the 1990s and to mid-2000s), the solution to the challenge of meeting nickel demand growth was thought to be mainly through increased processing of low-grade laterites (limonites) by pressure acid leach processes (PAL) or by processing higher-grade laterites (saprolites) by conventional ferronickel smelting

Soaring capex and major technical challenges have made this “solution” mostly a disaster for most of the nickel producers involved

Main questions for the market: Economics of Chinese NPI now and into the future – when does this end?

What are the economics of the alternatives? Will we revert back to PAL/FeNi “solution” or there alternatives?

Page 2

Page 3: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Take-off of Chinese demand stretched the nickel supply chain to breaking point in 2006/07

China's nickel demand

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

650

700

750

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

20

09

20

10

20

11

20

12

'000

t p

rim

ary

Ni

Stainless steel Non stainless applications

LME nickel stocks and price

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

140000

160000

180000

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

20

09

20

10

20

11

20

12

20

13

LM

E s

toc

ks

: to

nn

es

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

50000

55000

Pri

ce:

$/to

nn

e

LME stocks LME price

Page 3

Source: LME, Antaike, Macquarie Research, April 2013

Page 4: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Nickel demand growth is all about China

Changes in stainless steel output by region, 2000-12

-681

-530

-382

-255

1

665

1632

11257

-5000 0 5000 10000 15000

Japan

Europe

N.America

Taiwan

S. America

Korea

India

China

'000t SS

Changes in global nickel use by region, 2000-2012

-65

-50

-42

-19

1

9

20

676

-200 0 200 400 600 800

Europe

Japan

Taiwan

N.America

Korea

S.America

India

China

'000t Ni

Source: INSG, ISSF, Macquarie Research, April 2013

Page 4

Page 5: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Need for new nickel capacity – subdued in 2000-10 mainly by use of 200 series stainless, but lots of supply growth now needed

• Major surge in nickel use from 2000-2006 driven mainly by china

• Shortage of nickel prompted switch to 200-series stainless in China

•Collapse in global demand in 2009, combined with substitution led to major deceleration in demand growth

•Past three years has seen surging demand (and supply) once again

Source: INSG, CSSC, Macquarie Research, April 2013

Nickel consumption growth

120270

93238 215

369 310

59

294

900370

80

290

105

125

-100

100

300

500

700

900

1100

1950-60

1960-70

1970-80

1980-90

1990-00

2000-10

2000-06

2006-10

2010-13F

2010-20F

'00

0t

Primary use Demand "lost" by substitution

Page 5

Page 6: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Chinese found two ways of avoiding an absolute shortage of nickel after 2007

Source: ISSF, CSSC, Macquarie Research, April 2013

Nickel "shortage" from 2005 led to Chinese "solutions"

0 0 0 1868

13780

274 297 300368 393 431

0 0 0 1868

139100

345399 410

525

686

776

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

'00

0t

ni

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Ni use displaced by Chinese 200 SS Chinese nickel pig iron production

Page 6

Global ratio of 300-series stainless in total

55%

57%

59%

61%

63%

65%

67%

69%

71%

73%

75%

1990

1993

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

% o

f to

tal

2003

Page 7: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

The changing face of nickel – stagnation in sulphide production as laterites take off – mine production basis

Page 7

Source: INSG, Macquarie Research, April 2013

Laterite nickel mine production takes off

-100

100

300

500

700

900

1100

1300

1500

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

'000

t co

nta

ined

ni

Indonesia

Philippines

Turkey

Ukraine

Albania

Papua New Guinea

Madagascar

Venezuela

Serbia

Dominican Rep.

FYROM

Aust Laterite

Cuba

Colombia

Brazil

New Cal. (France)

Sulphide ore production stops growing

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

'000

t co

nta

ined

ni

Norway

Kazakhstan

United States

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Botswana

South Africa

China, P.R.

Aust Sulph

Canada

Russian Fed.

Page 8: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

The massive role of Indonesia and the Philippines

Indonesia and Philippines share in global mine production

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

% o

f w

orl

d m

ine

pro

du

ctio

n

Nickel ore production in Indonesia and the Philippines

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012'0

00t

con

tain

ed n

icke

l

Indonesia Philippines

Source: Philippines Mines and Geosciences Bureau, INSG, GTIS, Macquarie Research, April 2013

Mine production overstates the actual impact due to massive ore stocking in China and also >50% of ore from Philippines not being used as nickel, but iron ore

Page 8

Page 9: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

The picture on type of ores used in finished nickel production shows a major shift up in laterites

Finished nickel production by ore type - % share of total

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

55%

60%

65%

70%

75%

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

F

2014

F

2015

F

2016

F

2017

F

% o

f to

tal

Sulphide Laterite

Page 9

Source: Company data, INSG, Macquarie Research, April 2013

Page 10: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Current main production processes for nickel

Note: excludes leaching processes for sulphides (Talvivaara bioleach in Finland) and limonites (in

Guangxi and Jiangshi in China) Page 10

ORE TYPE

UPGRADING

PROCESSING

INTERMEDIATE

PROCESSING

PRODUCT

SULPHIDEOXIDE

(LATERITE) LIMONITE SAPROLITE

CONC.

PYRO HYDROPYRO

HYDRO

PYRO

MATTE NiS NiCO3 MATTE

HYDRO HYDRO HYDRO

CLASS 1 FeNiCLASS 1 CLASS 1 Ni-OXIDE CLASS 1/2

SMELT

PAL PROCESS

CARON PROCESS

NPI

Source: INSG, Macquarie Research, April 2013

Page 11: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Our estimates and forecasts of nickel production by process route

Finished nickel production by main process

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

F

2014

F

2015

F

2016

F

2017

F

'000

t N

i

Sulphide - conventional Sulphide bioheapleach Laterite - ferronickel Laterite - Caron

Laterite - PAL Other laterite Laterite - nickel pig iron

Page 11

Source: Company data, INSG, Macquarie Research, April 2013

Page 12: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Laterite growth dominated by FeNi, PAL and NPI

Much of major sulphide mine investment over past 20 years (Voisey’s Bay, Raglan, Nickel Rim, Mount Keith, Cosmos, Santa Rita, Flying Fox, Nkomati, Lanfranci, FNX, Kevista, etc) was essentially defensive, to offset falling reserves elsewhere.

Growth in laterites has come mainly from conventional ferronickel, high-pressure acid leach and Chinese nickel pig iron

Finished nickel production from sulphide ores

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

2014

F

2016

F

'000

t N

i

Conventional sulphide smelting/refining Bioleach

Finished nickel production from laterite ores

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

2014

F

2016

F

'000

t N

i

Laterite - ferronickel Laterite - Caron Laterite - PALOther laterite Laterite - nickel pig iron

Page 12

Source: Company data, INSG, Macquarie Research, April 2013

Page 13: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Where the finished nickel supply growth has come from and could come from

Page 13

Source: Company data, INSG, Macquarie Research, April 2013

'000t Ni Level Level Level Level1990 2000 2012 2017F*

Sulphide - conventional 658 692 760 823Sulphide bioheapleach 0 0 13 25Laterite - ferronickel 178 209 334 516Laterite - nickel pig iron 0 0 346 370Laterite - Caron 48 83 82 81Laterite - PAL 20 53 142 319Other laterite (leach&smelt/refine) 40 70 82 104Total 944 1108 1758 2238

% share % share % share % share % share1990 2000 2012 2017F

Sulphide - conventional 70% 62% 43% 37%Sulphide bioheapleach 0% 0% 1% 1%Laterite - ferronickel 19% 19% 19% 23%Laterite - nickel pig iron 0% 0% 20% 17%Laterite - Caron 5% 8% 5% 4%Laterite - PAL 2% 5% 8% 14%Other laterite (leach&smelt/refine) 4% 6% 5% 5%Total 100% 100% 100% 100%

* 2017f forecast is before disruption allowance

Share of nickel production by process

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1990

2000

2012

2017

F

Other laterite(leach&smelt/refine)

Laterite - PAL

Laterite - Caron

Laterite - nickel pigiron

Laterite -ferronickel

Sulphidebioheapleach

Sulphide -conventional

Page 14: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Strong growth ahead for FeNi and PAL…but that has been the case for some time now!

Ferronickel production by producer

-50

50

150

250

350

450

550

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

F

2014

F

2015

F

2016

F

2017

F

'000

t N

i

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

Onca Puma

Barro Alto

Koniambo

Kwangyang

Pristina

Kavadarci

Laryma

Pobugskoye

Lomo do Niquel

Pratopolis

Niqualandia

Pomalaa

Oheyama

Hachinohe

Hyuga

Cerro Matoso

Doniambo

Falcondo

% of world total

PAL production by producer

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

F

2014

F

2015

F

2016

F

2017

F

'000

t N

i

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

% s

har

e o

f w

orl

d p

rod

uct

ion

Moa Bay*

Ambatovy

Ramu River*

Taganito*

Coral Bay*

Ravensthorpe*

Cawse*

Bulong

Murrin Murrin

VNC

% of world supply

* intermediate product only

Page 14

Source: Company data, INSG, Macquarie Research, April 2013

Page 15: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Stainless industry getting lots more nickel and (mainly free) iron units now

Source: Company data, INSG, Macquarie Research, April 2013

Page 15

Nickel-iron units for the stainless steel industry

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

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03

20

04

20

05

20

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20

07

20

08

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09

20

10

20

11

20

12

20

13

F

20

14

F

20

15

F

20

16

F

20

17

F

'000

t N

i

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

55%

60%

65%

% o

f al

l n

i u

sed

by

stai

nle

ss s

teel

FeNi NPI Purchased SS scrap FeNi/NPI/SSS ni as % all of all ni in SS

Page 16: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Main recent PAL and FeNi projects – late and expensive

PAL '000tpa $m Ferronickel '000tpa $mStart-up Capacity Capex $/t cap Acid plant Refinery Start-up Capacity Capex $/t cap

Murrin Murrin 1999 40 1700 42500 x x Gwangywang 2008 30 720 24000Coral Bay Stage 1 2005 12 220 18333 Onca Puma 2011 52 3200 61538Ravensthorpe original 2007 40 3000 75000 x x Barro Alto 2011 40 1900 47500VNC (Goro) 2010 60 6000 100000 x x Koniambo 2013 60 5500 91667Ramu 2012 32 1800 56250 x Taguang Taung Nickel 2012 22 850 38636Ambatovy 2012 60 5500 91667 x xTaganito 2013 30 1600 53333

Total above 274 19820 72336 Total above 204 12170 59657

Ravensthorpe reopening 2011 40 740 18500

•Projects running many years late, capex mostly rose 2-4 times above original estimates and commissioning problems have been major

•Too early to be precise on operating costs but we think the PAL projects will range from $8,000-15,000/t with an average of $12-13,000/t while the ferronickel projects range from $8,500-13,000/t with an average of $10,000/t. Opex estimates much higher than in feasibility.

Page 16

Source: Company data, INSG, Macquarie Research, April 2013

Page 17: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Nickel pig iron progress by contrast has been miraculous!

The "economics" of new capacity - based on today's parameters

80000

60000

5000

150001300010000

1700013500

29000

2200018000 16500

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

90000

PAL (recent) FeNi (recent) Old NPI New NPI (RKEF)

$/t

on

ne

Capex Opex Incentive price

This is a very rough guide to the economics of new capacity

Page 17

Source: Company data, Wood Mackenzie, Macquarie Research, April 2013

Page 18: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Long run prices need to be higher…depending on NPI!

Page 18

Source: Wood Mackenzie, Macquarie Research, May 2012

How industry costs and incentive prices have evolvedExcluding NPI

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

$/lb

pri

ces

and

co

sts

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

$/lb

cap

ital

inte

nsi

ty

Average cash costs Incentive price (with 20% capital charge)

90th percentile cash costs Capital intensity new projects ($/lb capacity) RHS

Page 19: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Nickel pig iron – the big unknown Estimates for 2012 output (still!) vary by more than 50kt – very little reporting,

lots of guessing.

Cash costs range from $12-20,000/tonne ($5.45-9/lb). Costs vary widely.

Costs do vary with nickel price so there is no single price below which supply shuts – indeed costs have fallen sharply (-10 to -20%) since March 2012 (lower carbon and ore prices).

Capacity potential is massive – OVER 400,000 tpa NEW capacity due, mostly Greenfield rotary/kiln/electric arc furnace and integrated with stainless mills. Costs will rise as energy prices rise and RMB appreciates but new plants have 30-50% less energy consumption and stainless mills get significant energy and iron credit benefits.

Ore supplies from Philippines and Indonesia are critical in determining the future output limits. Many Chinese producers trying to backwardly integrate into ore.

If new supply outside China comes on successfully, capping prices, NPI production will be limited – if new supply fails, there will be more NPI.

Page 19

Page 20: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Key factors in NPI

Indonesian ore ban/quotas and taxes? 20% export tax (adds 35-40c/lb to costs if passed on…but it was not!)

Longer term cost pressures – breakeven for NPI could rise from $6.50-8.50/lb currently to $9-12/lb over next 4-5 years.

Replacement of current capacity by lower costs RK-EF capacity will offset cost pressures partly

Competition for higher-grade ore (1.8%+Ni) will intensify as more RKEF comes on and high grade reserves deplete – price of these ores could rise sharply

Still unclear how long the resources can last at current rates

We don’t think ore supply from Indonesia to China will stop in 2014 – it will become (a lot) more expensive and there will probably be some NPI capacity built in Indonesia from 2015 onwards

Page 20

Page 21: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Not all nickel pig iron is the same – cost falls in 2012/13 as ore and carbon prices decline

Page 21

Source: SMM, Macquarie Research, April 2013

14000

16000

18000

20000

22000

Jan

-10

Mar

-10

May

-10

Jul-

10

Sep

-10

No

v-10

Jan

-11

Mar

-11

May

-11

Jul-

11

Sep

-11

No

v-11

Jan

-12

Mar

-12

May

-12

Jul-

12

Sep

-12

No

v-12

Jan

-13

Mar

-13

$/lb

ex-

VA

T

Price: 4-6% NPI Costs: 6% Ni in blast furnace

20000

22000

24000

26000

28000

30000

32000

Jan

-10

Mar

-10

May

-10

Jul-

10

Sep

-10

No

v-10

Jan

-11

Mar

-11

May

-11

Jul-

11

Sep

-11

No

v-11

Jan

-12

Mar

-12

May

-12

Jul-

12

Sep

-12

No

v-12

Jan

-13

Mar

-13

$/lb

ex-

VA

T

Price: 1.5-2% NPI Costs: 1.7% Ni in blast furnace

13000

15000

17000

19000

21000

23000

25000

Jan

-10

Mar

-10

May

-10

Jul-

10

Sep

-10

No

v-10

Jan

-11

Mar

-11

May

-11

Jul-

11

Sep

-11

No

v-11

Jan

-12

Mar

-12

May

-12

Jul-

12

Sep

-12

No

v-12

Jan

-13

Mar

-13

$/lb

ex-

VA

t

Price: 8-13% NPI Costs: 10% Ni - Coastal

Costs: 10% Ni - Inner Mongolia

12000

14000

16000

18000

20000

22000

24000

Jan

-10

Mar

-10

May

-10

Jul-

10

Sep

-10

No

v-10

Jan

-11

Mar

-11

May

-11

Jul-

11

Sep

-11

No

v-11

Jan

-12

Mar

-12

May

-12

Jul-

12

Sep

-12

No

v-12

Jan

-13

Mar

-13

$/lb

ex-

VA

T

Price: 8-13% NPI Costs: 12% Ni - Conventional

Costs: 12% Ni - RKEF

Page 22: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Importance of ore cost is large – 95 tonnes of ore needed for one tonne of ni in NPI (10% grade)

Breakdown of costs of producing NPI from RKEF (2012 average)

Ore cost fob29%

Ore logistics24%

Power24%

Carbon12%

Other11%

Impact of ore cost changes on NPI costs for RKEF

6.0

6.5

7.0

7.5

8.0

8.5

9.0

35 45 55 65 75 85 95

1.8% Ni ore: $/wmt fob

Co

st/l

b N

i: c

ents

/lb

Source: Macquarie Research, April 2013

Page 22

Page 23: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Lots of new rotary kiln electric furnace (RKEF) capacity coming on stream in 2013!

Source: Industry estimates, Macquarie Research, April 2013

Page 23

Chinese RKEF Capacity by month

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

300000

350000

400000

450000

2010 2011 2012 2013

Cap

acit

y: t

on

nes

NI a

yea

r

Liande (LISCO)

Beihai Chengde

Ningbo Wangxiang

Shangdong Xinhai

Tenlong Hejin

Hongda Nieye

Changjiang Nieye

Suqian Xiangxiang

Jinguang (SW)

Baogang Desheng

Fufeng Shiye

Delong Nieye

Shangdong Jinaihui

Shangdong Xinhai

Yichuan Nieye

Haigan Keji

Tsingshan Siji

Shangai Haihe

Tsingshan Changqing

Beihai Chengde

Ningbo Wanxiang

Delong Nieye

Shangdong Jinaihui

Shangdong Xinhai

Tsingshan Dingxin

Chinese nickel pig iron production

120

71102 110

156

293

345385

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013f

'000

t N

i

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

0.5-2% Ni blast furnace 4-8% Ni blast furnace

9-15% Ni electric arc furnace 9-15% Ni RKEF

Page 24: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

In conclusionThe laterite “revolution” has arrived – it is built on the shaky ground of

low-cost Indonesian ore/Chinese NPI and VERY high-cost non-Chinese PAL/FeNi capacity

Failure of major Greenfield projects outside China and massive rises in construction costs of non-Chinese Greenfield projects likely to deter future investment

Next two years will be challenging for the nickel industry – unless the Indonesians ban ore exports in 2014

Growing deficits by mid-decade will lead to need for new capacity…new capacity needs prices significantly above $22,000/t ($10/lb)

Huge reliance on Indonesian ore to feed RFEF plants in China – unlikely to stay as “cheap” as it is today?

Page 24

Page 25: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

Page 25

Nickel supply/demand summary – surplus in 2012-14

Source: INSG, Macquarie Research, April 2013

`000t 2011 2012 2013f 2014f 2015f 2016f 2017f 2018f

Total SS production 33648 35125 38013 40760 43360 45563 47432 48963% Change 5.6% 4.4% 8.2% 7.2% 6.4% 5.1% 4.1% 3.2%Ni-containing SS prod. 25067 26556 28654 30739 32725 34473 35719 36947% Change 9.2% 5.9% 7.9% 7.3% 6.5% 5.3% 3.6% 3.4%Nickel Consumption 1597 1667 1781 1891 1990 2069 2125 2181% Change 7.4% 4.4% 6.9% 6.1% 5.2% 4.0% 2.7% 2.7%

Nickel Supply 1630 1758 1833 1922 1995 2057 2090 2176% Change 12.3% 7.8% 4.3% 4.9% 3.8% 3.1% 1.6% 4.1%(of which NPI) (282) (346) (387) (375) (360) (360) (370) (390)

World Market Balance 33 91 52 31 6 -12 -35 -5

LME/Producer stocks 186 227 279 310 316 304 269 264Weeks' world demand 5.9 6.9 8.0 8.4 8.1 7.5 6.5 6.2LME Cash Price (cents/lb) 1036 795 746 817 953 1134 1300 1300LME Cash Price ($/tonne) 22831 17527 16455 18001 21001 25000 28660 28660

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Important disclosures:

Recommendation definitions

Macquarie - Australia/New Zealand

Outperform – return > 3% in excess of benchmark return Neutral – return within 3% of benchmark return Underperform – return > 3% below benchmark return

Benchmark return is determined by long term nominal GDP growth plus 12 month forward market dividend yield

Macquarie – Asia/Europe

Outperform – expected return >+10%Neutral – expected return from -10% to +10%Underperform – expected <-10%

Macquarie First South - South Africa

Outperform – return > 10% in excess of benchmark returnNeutral – return within 10% of benchmark returnUnderperform – return > 10% below benchmark return

Macquarie - Canada

Outperform – return > 5% in excess of benchmark returnNeutral – return within 5% of benchmark returnUnderperform – return > 5% below benchmark return

Macquarie - USA

Outperform – return > 5% in excess of benchmark returnNeutral – return within 5% of benchmark returnUnderperform – return > 5% below benchmark return

Volatility index definition*This is calculated from the volatility of historic price movements. 

Very high–highest risk – Stock should be expected to move up or down 60-100% in a year – investors should be aware this stock is highly speculative.

High – stock should be expected to move up or down at least 40-60% in a year – investors should be aware this stock could be speculative.

Medium – stock should be expected to move up or down at least 30-40% in a year.

Low–medium – stock should be expected to move up or down at least 25-30% in a year.

Low – stock should be expected to move up or down at least 15-25% in a year. 

* Applicable to Australian/NZ stocks only

Recommendation – 12 months

Note: Quant recommendations may differ from Fundamental Analyst recommendations

Financial definitions

All "Adjusted" data items have had the following adjustments made:

Added back: goodwill amortisation, provision for catastrophe reserves, IFRS derivatives & hedging, IFRS impairments & IFRS interest expenseExcluded: non recurring items, asset revals, property revals, appraisal value uplift, preference dividends & minority interests

EPS = adjusted net profit /efpowa*ROA = adjusted ebit / average total assetsROA Banks/Insurance = adjusted net profit /average total assetsROE = adjusted net profit / average shareholders fundsGross cashflow = adjusted net profit + depreciation*equivalent fully paid ordinary weighted average number of shares

All Reported numbers for Australian/NZ listed stocks are modelled under IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards).

Recommendation proportions – For quarter ending 31 March 2013

AU/NZ Asia RSA USA CA EUR

Outperform 45.12% 53.24% 50.00% 40.70% 62.98% 43.30% (for US coverage by MCUSA, 10.55% of stocks covered are investment banking clients)

Neutral 41.52% 28.01% 41.43% 55.01% 32.60% 34.10% (for US coverage by MCUSA, 9.05% of stocks covered are investment banking clients)Underperform 13.36% 18.74% 8.57% 4.29% 4.42% 22.60% (for US coverage by MCUSA, 0.00% of stocks covered are investment banking clients)

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Page 27

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Page 28: Nickel: Resolving supply chain constraints

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