Domestic Prices Remain Weakly Stable With No Significant Movement, While South Africa's Dam Breach Has Disrupted Global Supply.

Today, the Chinese chromite market overall exhibits a weakly stable trend-prices stay steady but trading activity is thin, with strong wait-and-see sentiment prevailing in the market. Internationally, sudden accidents at South African mines and varying production dynamics across multiple countries have introduced uncertainty for future market trends. The mainstream quotation for high-carbon chromite remains within the range of 7,850–8,050 yuan per 50 basis tons, with ex-factory prices in various production regions remaining unchanged compared to the previous period. Specifically, Inner Mongolia quotes at 7,850–8,000 yuan, while Guangxi and Guizhou quote at 7,900–8,050 yuan. Supported by cost factors and strong downstream demand-driven purchases, market trading conditions are mediocre, with both supply and demand sides locked in a stalemate.
The prices for chromite raw materials remain stable; at Tianjin Port, the price for South African 40–42% chromite concentrate is quoted at 54.5 yuan/tonne, while prices in overseas markets remain steady. Cost calculations indicate that the spot average cost for domestic high-carbon ferrocromium is approximately 8,661 yuan per 50 basis tons, leaving limited profit margins for enterprises.
On the international front, sudden supply-side disruptions have become a focal point of attention.
On August 13, a dam breach occurred at a tailings pond operated by Dikwena under Samancor Chrome. South Africa's Minister for Mining Resources personally visited the site today (August 17) to conduct an inspection. The accident has already caused localized power outages and disruptions to rail transport; the specific impact on chromium ore shipments is still being assessed, sparking market concerns regarding short-term supply. A 20-megawatt solar power plant invested in and constructed by Zimbabwe's Jin An Group has reached 60% completion, aiming to ensure the electricity supply for its five blast furnaces and thereby increase production. Finland's stainless steel giant Outokumpu has commenced operations at its bio-coke plant in Tornio, designed to replace fossil coke and expected to reduce carbon emissions by 82,000 tons annually, thereby advancing green production. Afarak expects low-carbon ferrochrome demand to improve after the summer, given that current industry inventories are extremely low.