Nickel Price in 1990
In 1990, the price of nickel averaged $8,864 per tonne, down 33.4% from the year before. This page covers the 1990 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that nickel would be worth in today's dollars.
1990 Average
$8,864
LME annual average, USD/tonne
Change vs 1989
-33.4%
from $13,308 in 1989
What happened to the nickel price in 1990
Nickel averaged $8,864 per tonne in 1990, collapsing 33.4% from the $13,308 average of 1989.
Nickel whipsawed through the 1990s on erratic Russian supply and the 1998 Asian financial crisis low near $4,600, ending the decade around $6,000.
Adjusted for inflation, nickel's 1990 average of $8,864 equals about $21,858 in today's dollars. The conversion uses US Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U annual averages, so treat it as a close approximation rather than an exact figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the price of nickel in 1990?
What is a 1990 nickel price worth in today's dollars?
Annual averages are World Bank and LME nickel prices per tonne in US dollars (LME cash and settlement basis). Values before the LME nickel contract launched in April 1979 are producer and reference prices, and the 2025 figure is preliminary. Where daily data exists, the per-year high, low, and close come from MetalCharts historical data. Inflation adjustments use BLS CPI-U annual averages.