South African Ferrochrome Production Rebounds: Several projects add capacity as demand grows

摘要

South Africa dominates the 6 million mtpy global ferrochrome market because its Bushveld complex's chromite reserves constitute about 75% of global reserves. Stainless steel accounts for some 90% of ferrochrome uptake and South African ferrochrome, known as charge chrome as opposed to the high carbon chrome produced elsewhere (in particular Kazakhstan), is the preferred alloying product for stainless steel manufacturers. The South African material thus comprises about 85% of ferrochrome used in the global stainless steel industry. Ferrochrome is added to stainless steel for its corrosion and oxidation resistance properties. Stainless steel demand is likely to grow at 4% to 5% a year over the next 20 years, and therefore so will the equivalent demand for ferrochrome, with chromium making up between 10% and 30% of stainless steel content.