Abstract: High-grade nickel sulphide ore are drying up with the ever increasing nickel consumption to meet industrial demands. Thus, more and more countries have paid attention to the effective development and application of laterite nickel ore. The paper analyzes the mineral characteristics and exploitation status of laterite nickel by introducing the advantages and deficiencies of the major production processes. Through analyzing the current nickel exaction technology out of laterite nickel ore, the future development tendencies for hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical technologies are predicted.