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Chrome
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Chrome, or chromium, is a hard, shiny, and corrosion-resistant metal primarily used in alloying and electroplating. It is extracted from chromite ore and is mainly produced in South Africa, Kazakhstan, and Turkey. Chrome is mainly used in stainless steel production and electroplating making it essential for industries that require durable and corrosion-resistant materials.
What chrome types are frequently traded on Metalshub?
Sub-Category | Abbreviation | Core Content Range | Size Range |
Charge Chrome | Charge Cr | Cr 50-55% | 0-150 mm |
Chrome Metal Briquettes | Cr Briqs | Cr 99.1-100% | 5-80 mm |
Chrome Metal Ingots | Cr Ingots | Various | n/a |
Chrome Metal Lumps | Cr Metal | Cr 99-100% | 1-200 mm |
Chrome Ore | Various | n/a | |
Chrome Ore Sand | Cr2O3 46-100% | 0-0.71 mm | |
Chrome Oxide Green | Cr Oxide Green | Cr2O3 98.5-99% | 0.003-0.3 mm |
Chromite Sand | Cr2O3 44-100% | n/a | |
High Carbon Ferrochrome | HCFeCr | Cr 50-70% | 0-300 mm |
Low Carbon Ferrochrome | LCFeCr | Cr 60-70% | 3-500 mm |
Medium Carbon Ferrochrome | MCFeCr | Cr 60-70% | 1-200 mm |
Nitrided Ferrochrome | NFeCr | Cr 60-75% | 5-150 mm |
Please note that the above listed sub-categories including its core content and size ranges are just a snapshot of Metalshub’s currently traded raw materials. We are adding new sub-categories on a monthly basis and would be happy to assess your specific requirements to this category.
How can Metalshub help in buying and selling chrome?
Metalshub provides producers and consumers of chrome with a software solution to improve the way they buy or sell it. Our software connects over 2,000 companies in a joint trading network. This allows sellers to discover new buyers of chrome and buyers to discover new suppliers of chrome.
For buyers, Metalshub’s Procurement Solution allows steel mills, foundries, and other consumers to digitalise their procurement process in order to increase sourcing efficiency, ensure compliant buying, and take data-driven decisions. For sellers, Metalshub’s Sales Solution allows miners, traders, and other sellers to digitalise their sales process, manage inventory, and optimise their sales book.
What is the price of chrome?
Prices for chrome are available from multiple industry platforms:
- Fastmarkets: Fastmarkets offers journalistic price assessments for ferro-chrome, including high-carbon and low-carbon grades. Their pricing covers key markets such as Europe, China, and the U.S., with insights into ferro-chrome market dynamics (Fastmarkets).
- Shanghai Metals Market (SMM): SMM tracks journalistic chromium prices from the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE), providing updates on both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including chrome (Shanghai Metals Market).
- Metis: For low carbon and high carbon ferrochrome as well as chrome metal lumps, robust transaction-based price data is made available by Metis. The service also provides detailed market insights based on deep expertise and unique data-capturing methodology (Metis).
Beyond these three examples, other providers may also provide prices.
What are the key countries of origin for chrome?
The leading countries for chrome production are:
- South Africa – ~60% of global chromite production, the largest exporter of chrome ore
- Kazakhstan – ~15%, focusing on high-grade chrome for alloying and steel production
- Turkey – ~10%, a key supplier of chromite ore for European industries
- India – ~<10%, with growing production for domestic and international markets
- Zimbabwe – ~5%, emerging as a chrome supplier for global markets
Who are some of the key producers of chrome?
Some of the key producers of chrome include:
- Glencore (Switzerland) – ~15% of global chrome production, a leading supplier to the alloy industry
- Samancor Chrome (South Africa) – ~<15%, one of the largest integrated chrome producers
- Eurasian Resources Group (Kazakhstan) – ~10%, a major player in high-carbon ferrochrome
- Yildirim Group (Turkey) – ~<10%, a significant producer of chromite ore and ferrochrome
- Zimasco (Zimbabwe) – ~5%, a key supplier to the global chrome market
How is chrome mined and produced?
Chrome is extracted from chromite ore through both underground and open-pit mining. The ore is then crushed and processed to extract chromium, which is further refined into ferrochrome. High-carbon ferrochrome is produced by smelting chromite in a furnace, while low-carbon ferrochrome is refined further to reduce carbon content. Chrome metal is also produced for electroplating and alloying purposes.
What is chrome used for?
Chrome is primarily used in stainless steel production (~85%), where it enhances corrosion resistance and strength. It is also used in electroplating (~10%) to provide a protective, shiny coating on metals. In alloy manufacturing (~5%), chrome is combined with other metals to create high-performance alloys used in aerospace and industrial applications.