** Shares of Australia's Nickel Industries NIC.AX rise as much as 6.2% to A$0.940, logging their best day since February 18
** Stock hits highest level since March 17
** Nickel producer says its Hengjaya mine has received approval for 2026 nickel ore sales
** License increases its ore sales from 9 million wet metric tonnes to 14.3 million wmt - NIC
** Company also signs binding deal to supply minimum of 9.2 million wmt per annum of limonite ore to nickel project
** Stock up nearly 13% so far this year, including the day's move
(Reporting by Rajasik Mukherjee in Bengaluru)
((Rajasik.Mukherjee@thomsonreuters.com))