Italy is a major user of nickel. Total Italian use in 2002 was 117 kte (primary and recycled nickel units) which represented around 16% of EU demand. This demand is satisfied through a combination of imports of refined nickel and recycling of existing nickel. Through its critical use in nickel-containing alloys, it has a major impact on leading Italian industries such as stainless steel. In turn, the use of nickel-containing alloys in many important products manufactured in Italy means that the impact of nickel is substantial in many end-use markets.