Reuters

* Indonesia exported 8,637,595 tonnes of nickel ore up to March 31, 2018 since its ore export policy was revised in January 2017, data from the mining ministry showed.

* Indonesia’s bauxite exports reached 2,634,455 tonnes over the same period, according to the data shared with Reuters on Wednesday.

* Up to March 31, the ministry had issued quotas for a total of 32,266,315 tonnes of nickel ore exports, and 17,127,400 tonnes of bauxite exports.

* In a sweeping policy shift, Indonesia introduced new rules in January last year to allow exports of nickel ore and bauxite and concentrates of other minerals under certain conditions. (Reporting by Jakarta bureau; writing by Fergus Jensen; editing by Richard Pullin)