According to a report by Tianjin Daily on August 11, from January to July this year, the Tianjin port supervised the import of 75.9508 million tons of metallic ores and their ore sands, representing a year-on-year increase of 6.44%. Among these, the imports of chromium ore and manganese ore ranked first nationwide. Recently, the vessel "Minoan", carrying 88,000 tons of South African chromium ore, docked at Tianjin Port; after passing inspection and quarantine, the cargo was transported to steel enterprises in Hebei Province. Leveraging its well-developed railway and highway network, the Tianjin port has established convenient sea–land transport links, enabling the efficient delivery of mineral products such as chromium ore to industrial hinterlands in North China and Northwest China. The stable top position and continued growth in import volumes reflect China's strong demand for chromium resources, providing solid fundamental support for the chromium ore market.
The overseas chromium ore market has shown positive signals. Last Friday, after 7 consecutive weeks of unchanged quotes from overseas mines, prices rose by $5/ton; for a major South African mine located at Tianjin Port, the new futures bid price for 40–42% chromium concentrate is $285/ton (CIF), with the shipping schedule expected in late September. Recently, mines have demonstrated strong willingness to support prices; driven by disruptions in overseas shipments and cost-based support, the overseas market bottom provides robust support. According to SMM data, the price of South African chromium concentrate (40–42%) rose from 54.5 yuan/tonne at mid-July to 59.61 yuan/tonne at the beginning of August, representing an increase of nearly 9% within less than one month. Futures prices for mainstream chromium ores continue their upward trend, while supply liquidity remains relatively tight.
According to SMM data, for the week ending August 7, the total volume of chromium ore shipped from major global export ports reached 717,000 tonnes, representing a month-on-month increase of 12.68%, driven primarily by the Maputo Port in Mozambique (496,200 tonnes). The shipment volume at Maputo Port showed a significant increase compared with the previous week's figure of 389,300 tonnes. The robust growth in global maritime shipments of chromium ore reflects the active nature of international chromium ore trade.
