Risk Transmission of Trade Price Fluctuations from a Nickel Chain Perspective: Based on Systematic Risk Entropy and Granger Causality Networks

Nickel is a strategic mineral resource, with 65% of nickel being used in stainless steel. The situation in Ukraine starting in February 2022 has led to significant fluctuations in nickel prices, with prices of nickel products along the same chain affecting and passing through each other. Using systematic risk entropy and granger causality networks, we measure the volatility risk of trade prices of nickel products using the nickel industry chain trade data from 2000–2019 and explore the transmission patterns of different volatility risk prices from the industry chain perspective. The findings show that: (1) Nickel ore has the highest risk of import trade price volatility and a strong influence, but low risk transmission. Stainless steel has the highest trade price impact but is also subject to the strongest passive influence. (2) The Americas have a higher risk of trade price volatility but a weaker influence. The influence and sensitivity of trade prices is stronger in Asia and Europe. (3) Indonesia’s stainless steel export prices have a high rate of transmission and strong influence. Germany’s ferronickel export prices are highly susceptible to external influences and can continue to spread loudly. Russian nickel ore export prices are able to quickly spread their impact to other regions.