AMID the expected ban on Indonesian ore exports, the country’s production of nickel may increase by 25 percent next year with growth coming faster upon the government’s approval for suspended mines to resume operations, Fitch Solutions Macro Research said.

“We currently forecast Philippine mined nickel production to rise by 25 percent in 2020, although growth could come in faster if an unexpectedly high number of currently suspended mines gain approval from the government to resume operations,” Fitch Solutions said in its latest industry report.