The　resource　intensity　of　primary　nickel　production　in　China　was　analyzed　by　the　indicator　of　exergy,　which　can　provide　a　unified　picture　about　the　overall　processes　involved　in　the　life　cycle　of　nickel.　The　results　show　that　primary　nickel’s　CExD　value　is　235GJex/t,　and　the　largest　contributor　to　the　CExD　is　electricity　(46%),　followed　by　fuels　(31%),　mineral　(16%),　and　land　resource　(7%);　the　considerable　proportion　natural　mineral　and　land　resource　account　for　in　the　result　is　due　to　the　high　exergy　value　of　sulphide　minerals　and　the　low　grade　of　natural　nickel　ore.　The　results　also　show　that　the　calculation　of　this　study　is　sensitive　to　the　choice　of　allocation　basis　(mass　and　market　value);　however,　market　value　is　not　recommended　in　this　study　since　that　nickel’s　price　varies　greatly　over　time.　©　2016　Trans　Tech　Publications,　Switzerland.