Why were the Germans short of Nickel during World War II?

I hear how the shortage of nickel had especially hurt the Germans. But how did it hurt them? I saw this pdf document showcasing nickel production in 1931-1935. It seems enough to me. I don't want to assume that the Germans had enough nickel, but I have to ask what was their problem? Had the allies succeeded in grabbing a good portion the nickel reserves from Norway and Greece before the Germans could lay their hands on it? Also how bad was their shortage on the metals?

http://images.library.wisc.edu/EcoNatRes/EFacs2/MineralsYearBk/MinYB1935/reference/econatres.minyb1935.rmiller02.pdf

 

I don't have a copy myself but this is what your looking for.

The Wages of Destruction: The Making and Breaking of the Nazi Economy
http://www.amazon.com/Wages-Destruction-Making-Breaking-Economy/dp/0143113208

 

Between 20/40ù of he world reserves are in New Caledonia (French pacific island) and were in allied hands for a start.

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89conomie_de_la_Nouvelle-Cal%C3%A9donie

http://www.mncparis.fr/uploads/Nickel_MNC.pdf.

 

That is interesting about New Caledonia. Is there any evidence that the Japanese plans included taking New Caledonia at some point? Their bases in the eastern Solomons would have made it possible to continue pushing eastward.

Nickel was relatively scarce and was absolutely essential in the production of high quality steel, including armor, aircraft engine components and the bolts and receivers of firearms. The Japanese were so short of it that they resorted to using copper as a substitute in their naval armor. In the USA the rationing of nickel led to its being replaced with silver in the five cent coin.

 

There is a section in Broken Sword that talks of the Japanese plans after the Solomon's. I don't recall just how far they wanted to push but they realized that their logistical network was becoming somewhat strained.

 

The same observation could be made with chrome, which limited the life of the engines of the Me262 to a few hours.

All sustained wars - in the end - revolve around access to resources and manpower. Germany was short of both.