CHROMIUM 

By John F. Papp 

Domestic survey data and tables were prepared by Mahbood Mahdavi, statistical assistant, and the world production tables 

were prepared by Glenn J. Wallace, international data coordinator. . 

In 2011, the U.S. chromium supply (measured in contained 

chromium) was 147,000 metric tons (t) from domestically 

recycled stainless steel scrap, 531,000 t from imports, and 

122,000 t from Govennnent and industry stocks. Supply 

distribution was 232,000t to exports, 117,000 t to Government 

and industry stocks, and 451,000 t to apparent consumption: 

Chromium apparent consumption increased by 18% compared 

with that of 20 1 O. Historically, chromium ferroalloys have . 

replaced chromite ore as the leading source of chromium to 

the U.S. economy. Stainless steel mill products have been 

accounting for an increasing share of chromium supply to 

the domestic economy, now rivaling that offerrochromium. 

Because stainless steel mill products contribute a significant 

amount of chromium to the domestic economy, trade in these 

products has been incorporated into chromium trade statistics, 

and their contribution has been accounted for in chromium 

apparent consumption. Compared with that of2010, world 

chromite ore production decreased and ferrochromium 

producti011 increased in 2011. 

Chromium has a wide range of uses in chemicals, metals, and 

refractory materials. Its use in h-on, nonferrous alloys, and steel 

is for enhancing hardenability or resistance to corrosion and 

oxidation. Production ofstainless steel and nonferrous alloys 

are two of its more critical applications. Other applications are 

in alloy steel, catalysts, leather processing, pigments, plating of 

metals, refractories, and surface treatments. 

Legislation and Government Programs 

The Defense Logistics Agency, Strategic Materials (DLA) 

disposed of chromium materials from the National Defense 

Stockpile under its fiscal year 2011 (October 1,2010, through 

September 30, 2011) Annual Materials Plan (AMP) and 

announced the fiscal year 2012 plan. The DLA's fiscal year 2011 

AMP set maximum disposal goals for chromium materials at 

90,700 t of chromium felToalloys and 454 t of chromium metal 

(Defense Logistics Agency, Strategic Materials, 20 11). 

Production 

The major marketplaces for chromiunl-containing materials 

are chromite ore and foundry sand; chromium chemicals, 

felToal1oys, and metal; and stainless steel. In 2011, the United 

States produced chromite ore, chromium chemicals, and 

stainless steel. The United States is a major world producer of 

chromium chemicals and stainless steel. 

In 2011, Oregon Resources Corp. (ORC) [a subsidiary of 

IDM International Ltd., formerly Industrial Minerals Corp. Ltd. 

(Australia)] started recovering chromite from its Coos County, 

OR, paleo-beach placer (heavy-mineral sand) deposits. In doing 

so, ORC became the sole producer offoundry-grade chromite 

ore in the United States. ORC chromite ore shipments were 

5,142 t in fiscal year (FY) 20 II (July 1,2010, through June 30, 

2011). The company planned to increase production to 49,500 t 

in FY 2012 and 95,000 tin FY 2013-15 (Industrial Minerals 

Corp. Ltd., 2011; IDM International Limited, 20 12a, b). The 

combined proved and probable reserves for the Coos County 

heavy-minerals sands project was 9.1 million metric tons (Mt) 

averaging 7.4% chromic oxide (CrpJ 

Elementis Chromium [a subsidiary ofElementis pIc (United 

Kingdom)] produced sodium dichromate from chromite ore at 

Castle Haynes, North Carolina. 

Consumption 

Domestic data for chromium materials were developed by 

the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) by means of the monthly 

"Chromite Ores and Chromium Products" and "Consolidated 

Consumers" consumer surveys. Stainless and heat-resisting 

steel producers are the leading chromium consumers, and 

high-carbon ferrochromium is the leading chromium-containing 

material consumed. 

The U.S. stainless steel industry produces more than 2 million 

metric tons per year (Mt/yr) ofstainless steel and impOlis and 

exports stainless steel mill products and scrap, which account 

for a significant amount of chromium in U.S. trade. AK Steel 

Corp., ATI, and North American Steel Co. were the leading U.S. 

stainless steel producers. 

AK Steel.Corp. produced stainless steel at Butler, PA, and 

Mansfield, OH. AK reported shipments of 817,000 t stainless 

and electrical steel in 20 II compared with 756,000 t in 2010 

(AK Steel Corp., 2012, p . .lO, 15). Allegheny Technologies 

Incorporated (ATI) produced stainless steel at Brackenridge, 

Midland, and Latrobe, PA. ATI reported production of492,000 t 

of high value and standard products in 2011 compared with 

498,000 t in 2010 (Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, 2012, 

p. F14, F29). 

NOlih American Stainless (NAS) [a subsidiary ofAcerinox, 

S.A. (Spain)] produced stainless steel in Ghent, KY. NAS 

reported melt shop production at 937,087 t in 2011 compared 

with 899,150 t in 2010, a 4.2% increase. Acerinox considered 

the Ghent plant its most efficient stainless steel plant worldwide 

(Acerinox SA, 2012, p. 186). 

ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA [a subsidiary ofThyssenKrupp 

AG (Germany)] produced stainless steel at Calvert, AL. 

ThyssenKrupp continued development of a I-Mtlyr-stainless 

steel melt shop and rolling mill in Calvert (ThyssenKrupp AG, 

2012, p. 20). 

CHROMTIJM-2011 [ADVANCE RELEASE] 17.1 
Prices 

Chromium materials are not openly traded. Purchase contracts 

are confidential between buyer and seller; however, trade 

journals report composite prices based on interviews with 

buyers and sellers, and the U.S. Department of Commerce 

reports the declared value of U.S. imports and exports. Thus, 

industry publications and U.S. trade statistics are sources of 

chromium material prices and values, respectively (table 3). 

Foreign Trade 

The United States imported and exported chromite ore; 

chromium chemicals, ferro alloys, metal, and pigments; and 

stainless steel. Based on foreign trade statistics rep011ed by the 

U.S. Department of Commerce for 2011, the value offoreign 

trade of these chromium materials excluding stainless steel 

mill products and scrap was $124 million for exports and $1.13 

billion for imports. The value of foreign trade of chromium 

materials including stainless steel mill products and scrap was 

$3.60 billion for exports and $4.08 billion for imports (table 1). 

World Industry Structure 

The chromium industry comprises chromite ore, chromium 

chemical and metal, ferrochromium, stainless steel, and 

chromite refractory material and foundry sand producers. 

Several trends are simultaneously taking place in the chromium 

industry. The chromium chemical industry has eliminated 

excess production capacity, concentrating on production 

growth in surviving plants. Chromite refractory use has been 

declining; however, foundry use has been increasing slowly. 

Environmental concerns have reduced the use of chromite 

refractories and chromium chemicals. The fraction of chromite 

ore from independent producers is declining, while that from 

vertically integrated producers is increasing. In other words, 

chromite ore mines tend now to be owned and operated by 

chromite refractory, chromium chemical, or ferro chromium 

producers. This trend is associated with the migration of 

ferro chromium production capacity from stainless steel 

producing countries to chromite-ore-producing countries, a 

trend that has been interrupted with the emergence of China 

as a significant ferro chromium and leading stainless steel 

producer. While ferro chromium production capacity was 

closed in historically producing countries, which usually have 

been stainless-steel-producing countries, new furnaces or 

plants were constructed in chromite ore producing areas. The 

electrical power and submerged-arc electric-furnace production 

capacities used to produce ferrochromium have been increasing. 

Furnaces built recently have an electrical capacity in the tens of 

megavoltamperes (MVA), whereas when ferrochromium plants 

were first built, furnaces rated in the low kilovoltampere (kVA) 

range were common. 

Production process improvements, such as agglomeration 

of chromite ore, preheating and prereduction of furnace feed, 

and closed-furnace technology, have Deen retrofitted at the 

plants of major producers and are being incorporated in newly 

constructed plants. Since the introduction of post-melting 

refining"processes in the steel industry after 1960, there has 

been a shift in production to high-carbon ferro chromium from 

low-carbon ferrochromium. After years of ferrochromium 

production, slag stockpiles have grown. Recently developed 

processes have efficiently recovered ferrochromium from that 

slag, and processes have been or are being installed at existing 

plant sites. In South Africa, the leading chromite-ore- and 

ferro chromium-producing country, three trends are emergingferro chromium plants are being developed in the western belt 

of the Bushveld Complex, ferrochromium plants are being built 

in association with chromite ore mines, and ferro chromium 

production processes have been developed to accommodate 

chromite ore byproduct recovered from platinum operations. 

Mineral production became more geographically diverse 

during the past 150 years. Europe, along with the United 

States, accounted for nearly all of mineral p~oduction in the 

mid-19th century, but together now account for less than 

one-fifth of world mineral production. The world share of 

mineral production from the United States and Europe had 

been decreasing while the share from Australia, Canada, China, 

Confederation of Independent States, and a collection of 

developing countries has been increasing. While minerals and 

metals are not being mined to extinction, mineral scarcity will 

likely become an issue in coming decades. The displacement 

of Western countries by developing countries as the leading 

mineral producers has major geopolitical implications, because 

Europe is dependent on foreign supplies to satisfy its industrial 

demand. It was of concem that scarce miner~ls markets could 

be transfonned from equal access competitive bidding markets 

to markets where trade is conducted by long-tenn supply 

agreements between major corporations with heavy government 

involvement resulting in a politicized mineral supply. 

Capacity.-Production capacities have been rated for 

the chromite ore, chromium chemical, chromium metal, 

felTochromium, and stainless steel industries (table 7). Rated 

capacity is defined as the maximum quantity ofproduct that 

can be produced in a period of time at a nonnally sustainable 

long-tenn operating rate, based on the physical equipment of 

the plant and given acceptable routine operating procedures 

involving labor, energy, materials, and maintenance. Capacity 

includes both operating plants and plants temporarily closed 

that can be brought into production within a short period of time 

with minimum capital expenditure. Because not all countIies 

or producers provide infonnation about production capacity, 

historical chromium trade data also have been used to estimate 

national production capacities. Changes in reported production 

capacity result from both facility changes and increased 

knowledge about facilities. New infonnation about a facility 

may result in the reevaluation ofproduction capacity for that 

facility. 

Degel and others (2011, p. 53-55) compared altemating 

current (AC) and direct current (DC) arc fumace technology 

and described energy recovery. A benefit of DC furnaces is the 

use of fine run-of-mine material, eliminating the need for costly 

agglomerations process. ETI-Krom revamped two 30-MVA 

fumaces at Elazig, Turkey, and added an energy recovery 

system. Samancor operated two DC furnaces [40 megawatts 

(MW) and 60 MW]; Mogale Alloys operated two smaller DC 

furnaces; and Kazchrome installed four 72 MW DC furnaces 

expected to produce 440,000 metric tons per year (t/yr) of 

felTochromium. 

17.2 [ADVANCE RELEASE] U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK-20Il 
Production.-World 2011chromite ore production was 

23.3 Mt gross weight, a 3% decrease compared with that of 

20 I 0 (table 8); ferrochromium production was 9.5 Mt gross 

weight, a slight increase compared with that of201 0 (table 9); 

stainless steel production was 33 Mt gross weight, a 4% increase 

compared with that of2010. 

Chromite ore.-Alexander (2011 a, b) reported the recovery 

of chromite sand from landfilled foundry sand. Waste foundry 

sand has been used as a fill material, landfill cover, road base, or 

asphalt mix. Alexander estimated that chromite sand comprised 

about one-third (116,400 cubic yards) oflandfill foundry sand 

(338,000 cubic yards) from a hazardous waste site used by a 

steel foundry. Alexander Mill Services International developed 

a process to recover the chromite sand and other materials from 

that waste. The chromite sand recovered met the Steel Founders' 

Society ofAmerica tentative specifications for chromite sand 

and flour. 

McEwan (2011, p. 5, 15-17,20) reported that chromite ore for 

refractory use should have more than 45% CrPl' a chromiumto-iron ratio of more than 2 to I, a large aggregate size, and low 

silica (SiO ) content. Chromite-containing refractories were 

used in co;per, nickel, and platinum pyrometallurical extraction 

processes, steel industry vacuum degassers, foundry industry 

electric arc furnaces, and ferroalloy Creusot Loire Uddeholm 

converters. Stotzel and others (2011) described the thermal 

expansion and bulk density of chromite ore for refractory use by 

comparing them to other foundry sand. 

Chromium Chemicals.-Leading chromium-chemicalproducing countries where large sodium dichromate plants 

(production capacity in excess of 100,000 t/yr) operated 

included Kazakhstan, Russia, and the United States. 

Moderate-sized production facilities were located in China, 

India, Japan, South Africa, and Turkey. Small-scale local 

producers operated in China and India. 

Chromium Metal.-Major chromium metal producers 

included Russia (by the electrolytic process), Japan (by the 

silicothermic process), and China, France, Kazakhstan, Russia, 

and the United Kingdom (by the aluminothennic process). 

Ferrochromium.-Ferrochromium is the leading end use of 

chrornite ore. Ferrochromium production is electrical energy 

intensive. Charge-grade ferro chromium requires 2,900 to 4,100 

kilowatthours of electrical energy per metric ton ofproduct, 

with efficiency varying by ore grade, operating conditions, 

and production process. Thus, ferrochromium plant location 

will reflect a cost balance between raw materials and electrical 

energy supply. 

Chitambira and others (2011) reported that Zimbabwe's 

deteriorated power supply is a major limiting factor in 

ferrochromium growth. In addition, Zimbabwe is landlocked 

and far from consuming markets making transportation costs 

higher compared with those of the leading ferrochromium 

producers-South Africa and Kazakhstan. 

Stainless Steel.-Stainless steel is the leading end use of 

ferrochromium. The International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) 

reported 2011 world crude stainless steel production to have 

been 33.621 Mt compared with 31.094 Mt in 2010. ISSF 

reported world stainless steel trade to have been 15.7452 Mt in 

2011 compared with 14.3721 Mt in 2010 (International Stainless 

Steel Forum, 2012). 

CHROMIUM-201 I [ADVANCE RELEASE] 

Stainless Steel Scrap.-Stainless steel scrap is an important 

source of chromium to the stainless steel industry. The ISSF 

reported 2011 world stainless steel scrap trade to have been 

5.0201 Mt compared with 5.1976 Mt in 2010. 

World Review 

Albania.-Empire Mining Corporation (Canada) explored 

for chromite ore in the Bulqiza chromite mining district near the 

town ofBulqiza. Empire started a drilling program in the area. 

Empire sued the Albanian Ministry of Economy, Trade, and 

Energy because of a new restriction on Empire's mining license; 

the litigation was expected to be resolved in 2012 (Empire 

Mining Corporation, 2012). 

Illyria Minerals Industry Sh. a. (IMI) [a joint venture between 

Kurum Energy, Resources and Metallurgy Sh. a., a subsidiary 

ofKurum HoldingA:S. (Turkey) and Sichuan Jiannanchun 

International Group Ltd. (China»), contracted with the Ministry 

of Economy, Trade and Energy (Government ofAlbania~ 

to explore' and exploit Kalimash and Vlahne zone chromlte 

deposits in northern Albania. 1M! planned to produce 80,000 t/yr 

oflumpy ore and 90,000 t/yr of concentrate from ~OO,OO~ t/yr of 

run-of-mine ore for export to China. IMI also planned to ll1stall 

a high-carbon ferrochromium smelter nearby (Illyria Minerals 

Industry Sh. a., undated). 

Australia.-The Government of Western Australia reported 

chromite ore sales by calendar year in contained CrPl: 2011­

96,573 t of contained Crp3; 2010-73,535 t of containe.d Crp3 

(Government ofWestern Australia, 20 12,p. 20). Consohd~ted 

Minerals Limited (2012, p. 10) (Consmll1) reported chromlte 

production of323,800 t in 2011 compared with 0181,200: in 

2010, and chromite ore reserves of 0.3 Mt at 23 Yo chromIUm 

(Cr) and resources of 1.5 Mt at 29% Cr. . . 

Belgium.-Be1gium produced 1.2143 Mt of stall1less steelll1 

2011 compared with 1.3061 Mt in 2010. 

Brazil.-Brazil produced chromite ore, ferrochromium, and 

stainless steel. Brazil reported 2010 chromite ore production of 

520,129 t (258,308 t Crp3-content), exports of77,131 t, and 

imports of23,238 t. Brazil produced from a chromite ore reser:e 

of2.17 Mt CrpJ-content, mostly in Bahia State. In 2010, Brazil 

produced 277,114 t of chromium ferroalloys, exported 9,568 t 

and imported 11,390 t. Chromite ore was mined in the States 

ofAmapa and Bahia. Leading chromite ore producers :vere _ 

Cia. Ferro-Ligas da Bahia S/A, Magnesita S/A, and Mrnerayao 

Vila Nova Ltda. (Ramos, 2011). Brazil produced 0.4133 Mt of 

stainless steel in 2011 compared witll 0.4072 Mt in 2010. 

Canada.-Cllffs Natural Resources Inc. (United States) 

(2011; 2012, p. 6) reported that its chromite ore propertiesBlack Thor and Black Label (each 100% owned) and Big Daddy 

(72% owned)-in Ontario, had inferred mineral reso~ce~ 

of 69.5 Mt at 31.9% CrpJ' Cliffs conducted a prefeaslblh~ 

study that looked at open pit followed by underground rrumng, 

ore processing and shjpping facilities at the mine site, an~ a 

brownfield ferrochromium smelter at Greater Sudbury With 300 

MW electrical power capacity. 

Azimut Exploration Inc. explored for chromite in the James 

Bay region ofQuebec (Azimut Exploration Inc., 2011). 

KWG Resources Inc. (2010, p. 92) explored the Big Daddy 

chromite deposit (about 86°14'11" W, 52°45'32" N) and found, 

17,3 
to a cutoff grade of 15% Cr2

0 J

, chromite ore indicated resources 

of26.4 Mt at 39.37% Crp3 and inferred resources of20.5 Mt at 

37.47% Crp3' ' 

Noront Resources Ltd. (2011, p. 6) explored for chromite 

ore at its Blackbird and Eagle Two properties. The combined 

properties had measured resources of 5.187 Mt at 34.43% Crp3' 

indicated resources of3.678 Mt at 35.14% Crp3' and inferred 

resources of 6.124 Mt at 25.87% CrpJ' 

Ressources Minieres Pro-Or Inc. explored for chromite at 

its Menarik property in northwestern Quebec (Res sources 

Minieres Pro-Or Inc., 2012). Ressources patented a method 

to increase the chromium to iron ratio of chromite ore via 

a carbochlorination process that selectively removes iron 

(Ressources Minieres Pro-Or Inc., 2010). 

Diamond Discoveries International Corp. (United States) 

explored its Caribou Property near Thetford Mines, Quebec, 

Canada, which hosts histOlical chromite ore mines and chromite 

mineralization (Bassard, 2011). Diamond planned to prove 

resources and prepare scoping and feasibility studies by 2014. 

China.-China produced chromite ore, ferrochromium, 

chromium chemicals and metal, and stainless steel. China was 

the leading producer ofstainless steel, which also made it the 

leading market for ferrochromium. China produced a small 

amount of chromite ore and large amounts of ferrochromium 

and stainless steel. China imported 9.4 Mt of chromite ore and 

1.8 Mt offerrochromium in 2011. China produced 2.477 Mt of 

ferrochromium in 2011 compared with 2.090 Mt in 2010. China 

produced 13.786 Mt ofstainless steel in 2011 compared with 

12.415 Mt in 2010. 

Eurasian Natural Resources Corp. pic (ENRC) (United 

Kingdom) suspended ferrochromium production at its Tuoli 

plant in 2011 (Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation pic, 

2012, p. 10). 

Tharisa pic planned to construct Tharisa Ferrochrome Smelter 

at Luoyuan Bay, Fujian Province, China. The plant was to be 

located near Baosteel Desheng Stainless Steel Plant and Fujian 

Wuhang Stainless Steel Products Company, Ltd. The plaht was 

to start production in 2014 with a capacity of 600,000 tJyr of 

ferro chromium (Tharisa pic, 20 II). 

Cuba.-Cuba produced chromite ore. The Bolivarian Alliance 

for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) funded a chromite ore 

processing plant in Altagracia, Camaguey Province (Gutierrez, 

2011). 

Finlanti-Finland produced chromite ore (Kemi Mine), 

ferro chromium (Tornio Works), and stainless steel (Toruio 

Works). Outokumpu produced 693,000 t of marketable chromite 

ore from 1.4 Mt of run-of-mine ore, 231,000 t offerro chromium, 

and 1.707 Mt of stainless steel in 2011 compared with 598,000 

t of chromite ore from 1.3 Mt of run-of-mine ore, 238,000 t of 

ferrochromium, and 1.610 Mt of.stainless steel in 2010. The 

company reported proven reserves of chromite ore at 35 Mt 

graded at 26% Crp3' indicated resources of chromite ore at 13 

Mt graded at 30% CrPJ' and inferred resources of chromite ore 

at 78 Mt graded at 29% Crp3' Outokumpu produced stainless 

steel at melt shops in Tornio, Avesta (Sweden), and Sheffield 

(Britain). Outokumpu plalmed to increase its ferrochromium 

production capacity to 530,000 tJyr starting in 2013 and to reach 

full production capacity in 2015 (Outokumpu Ojy, 2012, p. 

50-51,85). 

Ruukki Group comprised chromite ore mining [Stellite Mine 

(South Africa), Turk Maadin Sirketi (Turkey)] and ferrochromium 

production facilities [MogaleAlloys (Pty.) Ltd. (South Africa), 

EWW (Gerroany)]. Ruuki was developing Mecklenburg Mine 

(South Africa), Waylox mine project (Zimbabwe), and expanding 

Stellite Mine and Mogale Alloys. Ruukki reported StelIite Mine 

chromite ore production capacity of 360,000 tJyr and Mogale 

ferrochromium production capacity of 280,000 tJyr. Ruukki 

reported production of82,200 t of chromite ore and 354,000 t 

offerrochromium compared with 20,000 t of chromite ore and 

6,880 t offerrochromium In 201O. Ruukki planned to complete 

the Mecklenburg Mine feasibility study in 2012 and to increase 

ferrochromium production capacity by adding two DC fumaces 

(Ruukki Group pic, 2012, p. 7-&,41). 

France.-France produced 0.2996 Mt ofstainless steel in 

2011 compared with 0.2756 Mt in 2010. 

Germany.--Gerrnany produced chromium metal, 

ferrochrornium, and stainless steel. Elektrowerke Weisweiler 

GmbH [owned by Ruukki Group (Finland)] produced 25,908 t 

oflow-carbon ferrochromium in 2011 compared with 17,994 t 

in 2010 from a production capacity of 30,000 tJyr from chromite 

ore produced by Turk Maadin Sirketi (Turkey) (Ruukki Group 

pic, 2012, p. 40). Advanced Metals Group, N.V. produced 

chromium metal. Germany produced 1.5016 Mt of stainless 

steel in 2011 compared with 1.5093 Mt in 2010. 

India.-India produced chromite ore, chromium chemicals, 

ferrochromium, and stainless steel. India exported lumpy 

and friable chromite ore and chromite ore concentrates. India 

reported that 21 mines collectively produced 4,262,207 t of 

chromite ore in fiscal year 2010-11 (April I, 20 I 0, through 

March 31,2011) compared with 3,425,580 t from 22 mines 

in fiscal year 2009-10, India's ch,romite ore reserves were 

estimated to be 53.970 Mt as of January 4,2010. India reported 

chromite ore exports of 172,866 t and imports of 80,573 tin 

fiscal year 2010-11, compared with exports of 689,081 t and 

imports of 89,050 t in fiscal year 2009-10. Chromite ore was 

mined in Kamataka and Odisha States. The leading chromite 

ore mining companies, all in Odisha, were Balashore Alloys 

Ltd., Ferro Alloys Corporation Ltd" IDCOL Ferro Chrome & 

Alloys Ltd., Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd., Orissa Mining 

Corporation Ltd., and Tata Steel Ltd. Krebs & Cei (India) 

Ltd., Tamil Nadu Chromates and Chemicals Ltd., and Vishnu 

Chemicals Ltd. produced chromium chemicals. India produced 

1.595" t of chromium metal (Indian Bureau ofMines, 2012a). 

Vishnu reported chromite ore consumption of45,404 t (Vishnu 

Chemicals Limited, 2012, p. 44). 

From an installed production capacity of 1.60 Mt/yr, India 

produced 1,032,100 t offerrochromium in fiscal year 2010-11 

compared with 892,923 t in fiscal year 2009-10. India exported 

1,305,855 t and imported 22,412 t offerrochromium in fiscal 

year 2010-11 compared with 471,953 t ofexpol'ts and 17,726 t 

of imports in fiscal year 2009-10. Chromium ferroalloys were 

produced at plants in Andhar Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, and 

West Bengal States. Balasore Alloys Ltd., FACOR Alloys Ltd., 

GMR Technologies & Ind. Ltd., IDCOL Ferro Chrome Plant, 

Indian Charge Chrome Ltd., Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd., 

Jindal Stainless Ltd., Jindal Steel & Power Ltd., Nava Bharat 

17.4 [ADVANCE RELEASE] U.S, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK-20ll 
Ferro Alloys Ltd., Rawat Ferro Alloys, Rohit Ferro Tech. P. 

Ltd., SAL Steel, Sri Vasavi Ind. Ltd., Standard Chrome Ltd., 

Tata Steel Ltd., and Utkal Manufacturing Services Ltd. were 

the leading chromium ferroalloy producers (Indian Bureau of 

Mines, 20 12b). India produced 2.2711 Mt of stainless steel in 

2011 compared with 2.1195 Mt in 2010. 

CronimetAIloys India Limited produced high carbon 

ferrochromium for use in the stainless steel industry from 

an installed capacity of 25,000 tJyr. The company planned 

to change its name to Metkore Alloys & Industries Limited 

(Cronimet Alloys India Limited, 2011, p. 24). 

Iraq.-Chromite was found to be associated with the Mawat 

ophiolite complex in Kurdistan region (Mirza, 2008, p. II-IV, 

67-102,161-162; 2011, p. II-IV, 67-102,161-162). 

Italy.-Cogne Acciai Speciali and ThyssenKrupp Accai 

Speciali produced stainless steel. Italy produced 1.602(5) Mt of 

stainless steel in 2011 compared with 1.584(9) Mt in 2010. 

Ivory Coast.-Sama Resources Inc. (Vancouver, British 

Columbia, Canada) reported finding massive chromite 

occurrences (about 7°40' N, 7°56' W) while geologically 

mapping and collecting rock samples (Sarna Resources Inc, 

2012, p. 50,79-80,85-86,88). 

Japan.-Japan produced 3.2559 Mt of stainless steel in 2011 

compared with 3.4269 Mt in 2010. 

Kazakhstan.-Kazakhstan produced chromite ore and 

ferrochromium. ENRC (United Kingdom) produced chromite 

ore and ferrochromium. ENRC produced chromite ore at 

Donskoy Mining Complex and Saranovskaya Mine 'Rudnaya' 

JSC (Russia). Production capacity at Donskoy was 3.5 MtJyr. 

ENRC reported salable chromite ore production of 3.567 Mt 

in 2011 compared with 3.574 Mt in 2010. ENRC's principal 

chromite ore producing subsidiary TNC Kazchrome JSC 

produced 4.4 Mt run-of-mine chromite ore, which it planned 

to increase to 4.9 Mt in 2031. As of December 31, 2011, 

ENRC's chromite ore reserves were 212.4 Mt at 41.4 % Crp3 

a1'l.d resources were 313.6 Mt at 49.4% Crp3' ENRC principal 

ferrochromium producing subsidiaries were TNC Kazchrome 

JSC, Serov Ferroalloy Plant JSC (Russian Federation), and 

Xinjiang Tuoli ENRC Taihang Chrome Co. Ltd. (China). 

ENRC reported ferrochromium production of 1.226 Mt in 

2011, compared with 1.258 Mt in 2010. At Aktobe, where 

ENRC operated a gas fired electrical powerplant, ENRC 

continued construction of four DC furnaces with a collective 

ferrochromium production capacity of 440,000 tJyr at an 

estimated cost of $750 million; completion was estimated for 

2013 (Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation pIc, 2012, 

p. 22, 24-27, 141-142). 

Orid Resources (United Kingdom), a subsidiary of Mechel 

OAO (Russia), produced chromite ore at the Voskhod Mine 

and chromium ferroalloys at the Tikhivin Ferroalloy Plant. 

Voskhod chromite ore feeds the Tikhivill Ferroalloy Plant. 

Voskhod production capacity was 1.3 MtJyr chromite ore plus 

0.65 MtJyr of chromite ore fines. Production was 691,500 t of 

chromite ore and 295,100 t·of chromite or~ concentrate in 2011. 

Tikhvin produced 140,000 t of high-carbon ferrochromium 

containing 60% chromium. Mechel reported proven (14.5 Mt) 

plus probable (2.3 Mt) chromite ore reserves of 16.8 Mt at an 

CHROMIUM-20Il [ADVANCE RELEASE] 

average grade of 42.2% CrPl as of December 31, 2011 (Mechel 

OAO, 2012, p. 122-3, 129). 

Korea, RepUblic of.-Korea produced 2.116 Mt of stainless 

steel in 2011 compared with 2.0122 Mt in 2010. 

Oman.-GulfMining Materials Company and Sohar Free 

Zone agreed to set up a ferrochromium smelter that would 

have two fumaces each with electrical capaeity of 16;500 kVA 

and ferrochromium production capaeity of 50,000 tJyr. The 

construction ofthe project was expected to take 12 to 14 months 

for completion (Oman News Agency, 2012). 

Gambhir (2011) reported that Oman was the third leading 

supplier of chromite ore to China after South Africa and India 

in 2008-10. Leading Omani chromite ore producers were Oman 

Chromite Company and Gulf Mining Group (GMM). Omani 

chromite ore grade is about 30% to 42% Crp3 with chromiumto-iron ratio of 1.9 to 2.6. GMM had a chromite ore production 

capaeity of about 300,000 tJyr. Omani chromite ore production 

was estimated to have been about 1 MtJyr all of which is 

exported with most (about 85%) going to China. 

Chromite ore producer Al Tamman Trading Establishment 

LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of Muscat Overseas Group) 

formed a joint-venture agreement with Indsil Group to build 

a ferrochromium plant in Freezone Sohar with a production 

capacity of 75,000 tJyr to become operational in 2013. The 

phmt's production capacity would eventually be expanded to 

150,000 tJyr (Indsil Group, 2012). , 

Metkore Alloys and Industries Ltd. planned to build a 

1 65,000-tJyr ferro chromium smelter in Freezone Sohar by 2014 

(James, 2012). 

South Africa.-South Africa produced chromite ore, 

chromium chemicals, ferrochromium, and stainless steeL In 

2011, South Africa was the leading producer of chromite ore and 

felTochromium. South Africa reported chromite ore production 

of 6.865 Mt of which it exported 1.035 Mt and ferrochromium 

production of 2.346 Mt of which it exported 2.621 Mt in 2009 

compared with chromite ore production of9.683 Mt of which it 

exported 0.762 Mt and ferrochromium production of 3.269 Mt 

ofwhieh it exported 2.525 Mt in 2008 (Mosiane, 2010, 

p. 112-117). South Africa reported that 13 companies mined 

chromite ore from 27 mines, and 7 companies produced 

ferrochromium at 14 plants with collective production capacity 

of3.697 MtJyr in 2011 (Moisane, 2011, p. 1-12). South Africa 

produced 0.444 Mt of stainless steel in 2011 compared with 

0.478 Mt in 2010. 

Marico Chrome Corporation, a 50-50 joint venture between 

Vereeniging Refractories and Samancor Chrome SA, operated 

the Marico Chrome Mine, which produced 40,000 tJyr of 

metallurgical- and refractory-grade chromite ore from 9 Mt of 

run-of-mine reserves. Marico chromite' seams are associated 

with the lower group seams of the Bushveld Complex. These 

typically have higher Crp3 content (up to 49%), lower Si02 

(less than 1 %), higher chromium-to-iron ratios (about 2: 1), 

and lower magnetite content than upper or middle group seams 

(McEwan and others, 2011). 

The Ruukki Group (Finland) operated the Stellite Mine, 

which had 300,000-tJyr run-of-mine chromite ore production 

capacity, and Mogale Alloys, a ferrochromium producer. 

17.5 
Ruukki held 5.7 Mt of chromite ore reserves in South Africa at 

Mecklenburg Project (Lillja, 2011, p. 5, 15-17,20). 

Spain.~Spain produced 0.807 Mt of stainless s.teel in 2011 

compared with 0.8442 Mt in 2010. 

Sweden.~Sweden produced ferrochromiurn and stainless 

steel. Sweden produced 0.5856 Mt of stainless steel in 2011 

compared with 0.5461 Mt in 2010. VargonAlloys AB, a 

Yildirim Group (Turkey) company, produced ferrochromium 

from a 220,000 tlyr production capacity. At Vargon (Sweden), 

Yildrim produced high-carbon ferrochromium from two 24 

MVAfurnaces, one 48 MVA furnace, one 105 MVA furnace, 

and a recovery-from-slag operation, which had a collective 

production capacity of 240,000 tlyr (Onal, 2011, 

p. 	II, 13,23-39). 

Taiwan.-Taiwan produced 1.2026 Mt ofstainless steel in 

2011 compared with 1.5231 Mt in 2010. 

Turkey.-Turkey produced chromite ore and felTochromium. 

Eti Krom Inc., a Yildirim Group company, milled chromite ore 

and produced ferrochromium. Eti Krom produced about 1 Mt/yr 

of chromite ore in 2011 from 20 mines, mostly underground, 

and planned to increase production capacity to 1.5 Mtlyr by 

2015. Eti Krom also produced high-carbon felTochromiurn at 

Elazig. 

Dedeman Madencilik mined chromite ore in the Pinarba~i and 

Tornntepe regions. Eti Elektrometalurji A.S. mined chromite 

ore from 12 mines in the Mugla-Fethiy region and produced 

ferrochromiurn at Antalya. 

Onal (2011, p. 11,13,23-39) reported thatYildirim Mining 

and Ferroalloys Division was the second leading high-quality 

high-carbon ferrochromiurn producer after ENRC with 

production capacity of 400,000 tlyr from eight furnaces (four in 

Turkey and four in Sweden). Yildrim held 100 Mt of chromite 

ore proven reserves, which it expected to increase to 150 Mt. At 

Elazig, Yildrim produced high-carbon ferrochromiurn from two 

17 MVA furnaces, two,30 MVA furnaces, and a recovery-fromslag operation; total production capacity was 160,000 tlyr. 

United Kingdom.-The United Kingdom produced chromium 

metal and stainless steel. London & Scandinavian Metallurgical 

Co. Ltd. produced chromium metal. The United Kingdom 

produced 0.3298 Mt of stainless steel in 20 II compared with 

0.2694 Mt in 2010. ' 

The British Geological Survey (2011) determined the 

chromium relative supply risk index to be 3.5 based on 

chromium abundance in the Earth's crnst, the location of 

production and reserves, and the political stability of those 

locations. The index ranged from very high risk, 10, to very low 

risk, 1. 

Zimbabwe.-Zimbabwe produced chromite ore and 

ferrochromium. On July 20, 2011, the Ministry of Mines banned 

exports ofraw'chrome ore, chrome ore fines, and alluvial 

chrome concentrates from the country. 

Zimbabwe Alloys Chrome (pvt.) Ltd. {Zim Alloys) restarted 

chromite ore production in 20 II after stopping ferrochromium 

production in 2008, owing to a lack of capital. Zimasco (Pvt.) 

Ltd. also produced chromite ore in 2011. Kalenjeka (20 II) 

reported that Zimasco planned to increase its chromite ore 

production capacity to l.l Mtlyr from 0.6 Mtlyr by 2015, with 

more than 90% of the ore extracted underground from stratiform 

deposits in the Great Dyke. . 

Chirasha (2011) reported Zimbabwe's ferrochromium 

production capacity to be 490,350 tlyr. Zimasco's production 

capacity was 220,000 tlyr, followed by Zim Alloys with 215,350 

tlyr. The remaining 55,000-t/yr of ferro chromium production 

capacity was held by four other companies. Actual production 

in 2011, however, was greatly limited by the country's 

deteriorating electrical supply (Chitambira and others, 2011; 

Miso-Mbele and others, 2011). 

Zim Alloys planned to convert two high-carbon 

ferrochromium furnaces to low-carbon ferrochromium 

production in 2012 at a cost of about $20 million. The 

refurbished furnaces were expected to have a production 

capacity of 80,000 t/yr. Zimasco planned to increase its 

ferrochromium production capacity to 320,000 t/yr by 2015 

(Njini, 2011; Metmar Ltd., 2012, p. 29). 

Outlook 

A variety of countries and regions were concerned about the 

mineral supply in 2011. Chromium supply was the subject of 

concern by China, India, South Africa, the United States, and 

Zimbabwe. China and the United States, as consumers, were 

concerned about supply. India, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, as 

suppliers, were concerned about maximizing domestic benefit 

from their national resources. Mineral supply interventions 

included taxing expOlis, limiting production and exploration 

licenses, national control of exports by suppliers, investment 

in development ofnew supply sources, and stockpiling by 

consumers. India's Steel Ministry called for extending restricted 

chromite ore exports to a total ban on chromite ore exports. 

South Africa's National Union of Mine Workers and some 

chromite ore producers that also produce ferrochromium called 

for restrictions on chromite ore exports. Zimbabwe banned 

the export of chromite ore. Those concerned with depletion 

appear to neglect the continual proving of new reserves and 

the economically dynamic nature of those reserves (that 

is, current resources can be converted to reserves as prices 

and cost of production change). Historically, South Africa 

took a leading position in the processing of chromite ore 

(ferro chromium production), because it had large reserves of 

chromite ore, developed processes to accommodate that ore, 

and made electrical power abundant and inexpensive. China 

has addressed its potential shortages by investing in chromite 

ore and ferro chromium production facilities, both in and out 

of China. The United States has stockpiled chromite ore and 

ferro chromium, a position that was being reevaluated in 2011. 

The outlook for chromium consumption in the United States 

and the rest of the world is about the same as that for stainless 

steel production, which is the leading end use for chromium 

worldwide. In 2011, economic expansion in China and India 

resulted in increased need for chromium to produce stainless 

steel. 

The practice of supplying chromium in the form of 

ferrochromium by countries that mine chromite ore was 

interrupted as China became a major importer of chromite 

ore to produce ferrochromium and South Africa, the leading 

ferro chromium producer, experienced limited electrical ppwer 

17.6 [ADVANCE RELEASE] 	 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK-2011 
supply; however, that trend was not expected to continue as 

China closed small, inefficient, environmentally unfriendly 

ferroalloy production facilities. Generally, ferrochromium 

production is most cost effective when the ferrochromium plant 

is close to the chromite mine. With new efficient and reliable 

ferrochromium production facilities in chromite-ore-producing 

countries, ferrochromium production capacity and production 

are expected to diminish in market-driven economies that 

produce ferrochromium without nearby resourees of chromite 

ore. Other factors of production, such as electrical energy 

or labor costs, can offset chromite ore transportation costs. 

Further vertieal integration of the chromium industry was 

expected in countries that produce ehromite ore as they expand 

ferrochromium or stainless steel production capacity. 

Chromite Ore.--Chromite ore produetion .capacity was 

expected to remain in balance with average consumption. To 

improve chromite ore availability and to stabilize feed material 

price, ferrochromium producers were expected to invest in 

mines that produce chromite ore; or, as chromite ore prices rise, 

new chromite ore resources will be brought into production. As 

platinum mining moves into chromite-bearing seams in South 

Africa, a greater portion of chromite is likely to be supplied 

as byproduct from such operations. In addition, platinum may 

become a byproduct of some chromite operations when efficient 

recovery ofplatinum from chromite ore tailings is developed. 

To meet chromite ore demand, chromite ore production was 

expected to increase in the leading chromite ore regions (India,' 

Kazakhstan, and South Africa) and in the Middle East (Oman, 

Turkey, and United Arab Emirates). 

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Tharisa pic, 20 II, Tharisa-A vertically Integrated company: Tharisa pic Web 

site. (Accessed June 15,2012, via http://www.tharisa.com!.) 

ThysseuKrupp AG, 2012, Interim report 11112: DUsseldorf, Gemlany, 

ThyssenKnlpp AG, August 10,47 p. (Accessed November 9, 2012, at 

http://www.thyssenkrupp.com!documents!investorlFinanzberichte!eng! 

ThyssenKrupp_2011_2012_Q3.pdf.) 

Vishnu Chemicals Limited, 2012, Annual report 2011-12: Hyderabad, India, 

July 30,47 p. (Accessed October 29,2012, at http:// 

www.vishnuchcmicals.com/downloadslannualreport _1112.pdf.) 

GENERAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION 

U.S. Geological Survey Publications 

Chromium. Ch. in Mineral Commodity Summaries, annuaL 

Chromium. Ch. in United States Mineral Resources, 

Professional Paper 820, 1973. 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK-20 II 
Chromium. International Strategic Minerals Inventory Summary Chromium. Ch. in Mineral Facts and Problems, U.S. Bureau of 

Report, Circular 930-B, 1984. Mines Bulletin 675,1985. 

Chromium. Mineral Industry Surveys, monthly. International Chromium Development Association. 

Strategic and Critical Materials Report to the Congress. U.S. 

Other Department of Defense, multiple years. 

Chrornite. Ch. in Industrial Minerals and Rocks (7th ed.) S,ociety 

for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., 2006. 

CHROMIUM-2011 [ADVANCE RELEASE] 17.9 
TABLE I 


SALIENT CHROMIUM STATISTICS' 


2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 

World, production, contained ·chromium: 

Chromite ore (mine)2 metric tons 6,930,000 r 7,320,000 r 6,020,000 r 7,370,000 r 7,180,000 

Ferrochromium (smelter)) do. 4,790,000 4,770,000 r 4,010,000 r 5,300,000 r 5,440,000 

Stainless steel' do. 4,790,000 r 4,540,000 r 4,420,000 r 5,370,000 r 5,560,000 

U.S. supply: 

Components ofU.S. supply, contained chromium: 

Domestic mines do. 

Seconda!},5 do. 162,000 146,000 141,000 144,000 147,000 

Imports: 

Chromite ore2 do. 46,400 64,300 23,000 43,900 70,300 

Chromium chemicals do. 10,600 18,000 10,600 5,120 4,270 

Chromium ferroalloys do. 259,000 307,000 140,000 305,000 311,000 

Chromium metal do. 11,700 13,100 7,570 13,000 13,600 

Stainless steel mill products and scrap do. 158,000 157,000 91,800 133,000 132,000 

Stocks, January I: 

Government do. 253,000 115,000 155,000 6 129,000 115,000 

Industry7 do. 9,620 9,940 7,290 6,820 7,300 

Total do. 910,000 831,000 576,000 779,000 800,000 

Distribution of U.S. supply, contained chromium: 

Exports: 

Chromite ore2 do. 12,000 2,280 743 1;390 1,930 

Chromium chemicals do. 21,000 22,600 13,500 21,600 20,600 

Chromium ferro alloys and metal do. 27,000 11,300 2,900 4,850 3,060 

Stainless steel mill products and scrap do. 231,000 250,000 263,000 246,000 206,000 

Stocks, January I: 

Government do. 115,000 105,000 8 129,000 115,000 r 111,000 

Indust!}'7 do. 9,940 7,290 6,820 7,300 6,150 

Total do. 416,000 399,000 416,000 396,000 r 349,000 

Production, reported, chromium ferroalloy and metal net production" W W W 

Consumption 

Apparent, contained chromium do. 493,000 432,000 160,000 384,000 r 451,000 

Reported: 

Chromite ore and concentrates, gross weight do. W W W W W 

Chromium ferroallo~s: ,0 

Gross weight do. 469,000 427,000 383,000 423,000 r 428,000 

Contained· chromium do. 275,000 251,000 224,000 248,000 250,000 

Chromium metal, gross weight do. 5,410 4,740 4,190 4,540 3,080 

Stocks, December 31, gross wc:ight: 

Government 

Chromite ore do. 

Chromium ferroalloys do. 155,000 140,000 8 175,000 154,000 150,000 

Chromium metal do. 4,970 4,820 4,670 4,430 r 4,230 

Industry: 

Producer'! do. W W W W W 

Consumcr: 

·Chromium ferroalloys'2 do. 16,300 11,700 10,900 r 11,500 9,900 

Chromium metal do. 221 235 149 r 284 162 

Other do. 216 272 263 243 92 

Prices, average annual: 

Chromite orelJ dollars per metric ton 244 346 159 208 216 

Ferrochromium, chromium content 14 dollars pcr pound 1.01 r 1.79 r 0.81 1.17 r 1.15 

Aluminotherrnic chromium metal, gross weig!!t'5 do. 3.66 5.30 4.08 5.23 6.56 

Value of trade: !6 

Exports thousands $150,000 $149,000 $86,600 $131,000 $124,000 

Imports do. $699,000 $1,430,000 $444,000 $1,010,000 . $1,130,000 

Net imJ2orts!7 do. -548,000 -1,280,000 -358,000 -884,000 r -1,010,000 

See footnotes at end of table. 

17.10 [ADVANCERELEASEj U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK-2011 
metric tons 

do. 

do. Ditto. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data. -- Zero. 

'Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2Calculated assuming chromite ore to average 44% Cr203, which is 68.42% chromium. 

3Calculated assuming chromium content offerrochromium to average 57% chromium. 

TABLE l-Continued 

SALIENT CHROMIUM STATISTICS' 

2007 

2,170,000 r 1,930,000 r 1,620,000 r 2,200,000 r 2,070,000 

360,000 324,000 276,000 383,000 353,000 

0.1656 0.1684 0.1703 0.1738 0.1703 

1,700,000 1,380,000 1,200,000 1,510,000 1,890,000 

476,000 471,000 414,000 508,000 558,000 

809,000 783,000 416,000 585,000 605,000 

953,000 858,000 832,000 846,000 '866,000 

1,430,000 1,330,000 1,260,000 1,280,000 1,300,000 

882,000 1,000,000 1,130,000 937,000 656,000 

118,000 140,000 124,000 195,000 169,000 

4Calculated from American Iron and Steel Institute reported stainless steel production assuming chromium content ofstainless steel to average 16.7% chromium. 


5Calculated assuming chromium content of stainless steel to average 17% chromium. 


6From January I, 2009 to December 31, 2009, the DLA made an accounting adjustment to low-carbon ferrochromium stocks making them (the stocks for those 


months) incompatible for the purpose ofcomputing stock change for that year. January stocks were estimated. 


'Includes consumer stocks o(chromium ferroalloys and metal and other chromium-containing materials. 


"From January I, 2008 to December 31,2008, the DLA changed its high-carbon and low-carpon ferrochromium stocks accounting method making them (the 


stocks for those months) incompatible for the purpose of computing stock change for that year. December stocks were estimated based on monthly stock 


changes excluding the accounting-change month. 


9Includes chromium ferroalloys and metal and other chromium materials in the tTnited States. 


IOChromium ferroalloys, chromite ore, and other chromium-containing materials excluding chromium metal. 


llChromium ferroalloys and metal producer stocks ofchromium ferroalloys and metal. 


12Consumer stocks of high- and low-carbon ferrochromium and ferrochromium-silicon. 


13Time-weighted average price of South African chromite ore that contains 44% Cr203 f.o.b. South Africa as reported in Ryan's Notes. 


14Time-weighted average U.S. price of imported high-carbon chromium that contains 49% to 51 % chromium as reported in Ryan's Notes. 


15Annual average U.S. price of imported aluminothermic chromium metal as reported by Ryan's Notes. 


16Includes chromite ore and chromium ferroalloys, metal, and chemicals. 


17Negative data indicate that imports are greater than exports. 


18Source: American Iron and Steel Institute annual report of stainless and heat-resisting raw steel production and shipments. 


19Estimated mass-weighted average of the mean chromi.um content of stainless steel production by grade. Uncertainty is approximately ± 0.0 I, owing to the 


range of chromium chemical specification limits by stainless steel grade. 


20Ratio ofestimated mass-weighted average chromium content of stainless steel production by grade to production. Expressed as a fraction. 


21Source: American Iron and Steel Institute annual report of stainless and heat-resisting raw steel shipments. 


22Includes stainless steel and stainless steel scrap. 


CHROMIUM-201 j [ADVANCE RELEASE] 17.11 
TABLE 2 

u.s. REPORTED CONSUMPTION AND STOCKS OF CHROMIUM PRODUCTS! 

(Metric tons) 

7,210 4,430 5,420 3,570 -1,790 

2,800 1,840 2,890 1,930 91 

358,000 207,000 364,000 209,000 5,790 2 

17,900 10,900 20,300 12,100 2,400 13 

27,800 17,400 27,000 16,900 -756 -3 

9,390 7,480 8,310 6,110 -1,080 -12 

-33 

32,000 21,900 31,200 21,400 -735 -2 

364,000 215,000 370,000 217,000 6,080 2 

(5) (5) (5) (5) (5) W 

4,540 4,540 3,080 3,080 -1,460 -32 

371 256 179 135 -192 -52 

27,100 10,700 26,500 10,600 -581 -2 

428,000 252,000 431,000 252,000 3,110 

1,810 1,240 1,850 1,270 43 2 

9,210 5,450 7,390 4,340 -1,820 -20 

(S) (S) W W W W 

284 283 162 162 -122 -43 

124 86 W W W W 

618 246 685 296 67 -11 

12,000 7,300 10,100 6,070 -1,960 -16 

95,400 68,100 95,200 68,000 -190 

59,000 42,200 54,300 38,800 4,690 -8 

-203 -5 

W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included in 'TotaL" -- Zero. 

l Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2Change based on gross weight quantity ofllllIou.nded data ofcurrent year compared with that ofprevious year. 

lIncludes electrical, tool, and unspecified steel end uses. . 

4Includes cast irons, welding and alloy hard-facing rods and materials, wear- and corrosion-resistant alloys, and aluminum, copper, magnetic, 

nickel, and other alloys. 

SWithheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included in "Other chromium materials." . 

"The source for stockpile information is the Defense Logistics Agency, DLA Strategic Materials. 

7The DLA data is based on the 'Total Uncommitted Inventory" of stockpile material D-I report. 

8Chromium content estimated using 71.4 % chromium . 

.9Chromium content estimated using 100% chromium. 

17.12 [ADVANCE RELEASE) U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK-20 II 
, TABLE 3 

VALUE OF IMPORTS AND U.S. PRICE QUOTATIONS FOR CHROMIUM MATERIALS 1 

xx 

537 

793 

XX 

168 

252 

1,490 

814 

986 

528 

252 

372 

674 212 965 355 

4,630 3,180 5,000 3,460 

3,660 2,240 4,080 2,320 

1,850 1,100 1,4~0 __ 794 

4,540 3,090 4,920 3,380 

2,290 1,320 2,270 1,300 

2,560 1,500 2,600 1,530 

XX 11,300 XX 14,100 

1,340 6' 339 1,250 0" 317 

1,270 6' 357 1,190 0' 334 

778 r 208 779 208 

690 208 718 216 

117 XX 115 XX 

126 XX 122 XX 

240 XX 246' XX 

216 XX 228 XX 

200 XX .219 XX 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. Ditto. XX Not applicable. 

lData are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

"Mass-weighted average based on customs value and weight of imported material. 

3Reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. 

4Average for all grades. 

sSource: Ryan's Notes. 

6Based on average CrZ03 content. 

'Correction posted June 25, 2013. 

CHROMIUM-20l1 [ADVANCE RELEASE] 17.13 
;--l TABLE 4 

':I;: U.S. EXPORTS OF CHROMIUM METAL, BY TYPE1 

:; 

" 2010 2011 ~ Z Quantity Value Quantity Value Principal destinations in 20 II () 

HTS2 crt code T;tEe (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands) (Quantity in metric tons, value in thousands) 

:;<l 2610.00.0000 Chromite ore and concentrates, gross weight 4,420 $2,620 5,250 $3,520 Canada (2,550, $1,580); Mexico (1,030, $743); Netherlands (864, $497); China Pl 

~ (269, $214); Australia (118, $59). 

(j) 

~ Rll??IOOOO TlnuTrnnn'ht "hrn'fT'lill'fTI nn1uAP'rc 291 6,570 345 8,020 Japan (94, $1,060); Germany (63, $2,410); Mexico (55, $920); Brazil (30, $488); 

China (24, $710); Canada (22, $440). 

8112.22.0000 Chromium metal waste and scrap 41 734 18 428 'Philippines (6, $106); Germany (4, $138); Taiwan (3, $61); Japan (3, $59); United 

Kingdom (I, $40); Mexico (I, $20). 

8112.29.0000 Chromium metal other than unwrought 265 11,100 194 5,360 Belgium (62, $560); Japan (19, $707); Hong Kong (17, $579); Taiwan (15, $490); 

powders and waste and scrap Canada (II, $218); Ireland (8, $159); United Kingdom (8, $186); Brazil 

(7, $336); Mexico (5, $264); France (5, $267). 

597 18,400 557 13,800 

7202.41.0000 

6,530 7,810 4,260 5,360 Brazil (940, $1,200); Canada (850, $1,059); Mexico (530, $860); Peru 

3,150 XX 1,940 XX (360, $329); Thailand (359, $508); Italy (291, $262); Argentina (265, $234). 

7202.49.0000 

2,490 4,820 1,030 2;250 Canada (387, $894); Mexico (328, $736); Argentina (96, $159); Netherlands 

1,060 XX 549 XX (61, $144); Brazil (44, $101); India (42, $105); Australia (40, $53); Peru 

(27, $44); Colombia (9, $16). 

7202.49.0000 

106 225 28 64 Canada (24, $40); Brazil (3, $16); Colombia (I, $8). 

37 XX 10 XX 

9,130 12,900 5,330 7,670 

4,250 XX 2,500 XX 

C Chemicals, gross weight: i:n Chromium oxides: 0 

tTl 2819.10.0000 Chromium trioxide 14,700 30,700 13,000 22,000 Brazil (2,580, $3,240); Republic ofKorea (1,190, $1,520); United Kingdom 0 

S (1,160, $1,450); India (1,030, $1,280); France (729, $911); Indonesia 

~ (614, $768); Chile (606, $1,000); Germany (535, $863); Spain (526, $1,790); 

>­ Belgium (495, $628); Mexico (492, $1,890); Italy (473, $807). 

t-' 5,250 26,000 4,800 32,800 Belgium (999, $7,040); Spain (945, $5,780); United Kingdom (501, $2,910); (j) 

C Canada (423, $2,870); China (348, $] ,680); Brazil (249, $1,740); Mexico 

~ (247, $1,340); Germany (232, $2,020). tIl 

-< 19,900 56,700 17,800 54,800

~ 2833.29.4000 60 306 53 263 Brazil (16, $79); Taiwan (15, $74); China (8, $40); Turkey (3, $]3); Sweden 

Z (2, $12); Hong Kong (2, $10); United Kingdom (2, $10); Vietnam (I, $7); 

~ Germany (1, $6); Australia (I, $8); South Africa (I, $3). 

t-' 

(j) 

-< 35 362 4 396 South Africa (3, $359); Mexico (I, $27). 

~ 

Ei 

0 

0 

r 

IV 

8 
I TABLE 4-Continued 

U.S. EXPORTS OF CHROMIUM METAL, BY TYPE I 

f 2010 2011 

Quantity Value Value Principal destinations in 20 II N Type (metric tons) (thousancls) (metric tons) (thousands) (Quantity in metric tons, value in thousands) ;:: HTSz code 

2841.30.0000 'Sodium dichromate 29,400 27,500 30,100 28,900 Japan (20,200, $18,300); Mexico (4,880, $4,960); Canada (2,590, $3,970); India 

2841.50.1000 Potassium dichromate 48 131 72 152 (1,130, $853); China (321, $261); Peru (246, $ 135); Republic of Korea 

-

~ 

~ (149, $82); Taiwan (113, $62); Indonesia (94, $64); Philippines (76, $42); Brazil 

(76, $42); South Africa (38, $21); Thailand (38, $21); Malaysia (38, $21); Chile 

&l (19, $24); Singapore (11, $6). 

f:l 2841.50.9100 Other 929 928 3,940 Republic of Korea (160, $599); China (108, $419); Indonesia (I03, $161); Canada I:"" (94, $391); Vietnam (89, $365); Thailand (61, $222); India (53, $115); South ~ Africa (37, $772); Russia (34, $89); Lithuania (31, $83). El Total salts 30,500 31,500 31,100 33,400 

3206.20.0000 Pigments and preparations, gross weight 2,540 8,640 1,810 10,600 Mexico (1,480, $5,910); Canada (89, $499); Colombia (40, $568); Brazil (32, 

$475); Germany (32, $375). 

xx Not applicable. 

IData are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 


zHarmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States of America. 


3More than 4% carbon. 


~ot more than 4% carbon. 


Source: U.S. Census Bureau. 

") 

-

:::; 


U> 
:-J TABLE 5 

~ 

'>0 

5S 

Z Not more than 0.5% carbon 

U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF FERRO CHROMIUM, BY COUNTRyl 

More than 0.5% carbon, but More than 3% carbon, but 

not more than 3% carbon not more than 4% carbon More than 4% carbon () 

tIl illTS2 code 7202.49.5090} (HTS2 code 7202.49.501 O} (HTS2 code 7202.49.1 OOO} (HTS2 code 7202.41.0000} Total all grades 

'" tIl Gross Cr Gross Cr Gross Cr Gross Cr Gross Cr r' 

tIl 

>­ fJJ 

weight 

(metric 

content 

(metric Value 

weight 

(metric 

content 

(metric Value 

weight 

(metric 

content 

(metric Value 

weight 

(metric 

content 

(metric Value 

weight 

(metric 

content 

(metric Value 

~ Country tons) tons) (thousands) tons) tons) (thousands) tons) tons) (thousands) tons) tons) (thousands) tons) tons) (thousands) 

2010: 

Albania 1,370 903 $3,280 11,600 7,610 $16,700 13,000 8,510 $20,000 

Belgium 500 351 2,020 20 15 $79 520 367 2,100 

Brazil 19 12 49 19 12 49 

China 2,570 1,520 6,860 140 92 $371 40 40 123 960 667 1,770 3,710 2,320 9,130 

Finland 429 217 415 429 217 415 

France (3) (3) 3 (3) (3) 3 

Germany 5,240 3,670 21,800 50 35 176 5,290 3,710 21,900 

India 475 292 611 13,300 8,170 18,900 13,800 8,470 19,500 

Japan 2,050 1,420 9,010 2,050 1,420 9,010 

Kazakhstan 2,920 1,860 8,150 112,000 77,900 194,000 115,000 79,700 203,000 

Latvia 200 140 375 200 140 375 

Netherlands 81 60 298 81 60 298 

Romania 3,030 1,710 3,410 3,030 1,710 3,410 

Russia 32,400 22,600 98,500 1,050 720 2,840 636 350 473 33,500 21,300 53,300 67,600 45,000 155,000 

Slovenia 100 62 139 100 62 139 

South Africa 1,000 608 3,080 1,180 640 2,110 243,000 121,000 250,000 245,000 122,000 255,000 

Sweden 23 16 138 8,050 5,190 14,200 8,070 5,210 14,300 

Switzerland 96 67 124 96 67 124 

Turkey 1,700 1,210 5,450 11,000 7,280 20,000 12,700 8;480 25,400 

United Kingdom 24 19 68 24 19 68 

c::: 

0 

Cl 

tIl 

0 

r' 

0 

Cl 

n 

>­ r' 

fJJ 

c::: 

Zimbabwe 

Total 

2011: 

Albania 

Belgium 

Brazil 

China 

Finland 

49,900 

284 

61 

1,220 

. 708 

34,300 

197 

41 

729 

466 

159,000 

593 

266 

3,170 

2,460 

2,370 1,450 5,320 1,170 

(3) 

697 

(3) 

1,290 

4 

16,500 

454,000 

8,520 

3 

214 

9,550 

261,000 

5,440 

2 

III 

23,400 

597,000 

12,500 

9 

212 

16,500 

507,000 

8,800 

61 

1,220 

711 

214 

9,550 

297,000 

5,630 

41 

729 

468 

III 

23,400 

763,000 

13,100 

269 

3,170 

2,470 

212 

~ tIl 

.-< 

Germany 

India 

6,540 4,580 31,600 

95 54 105 13,400 8,080 19,300 

6,540 

13,500 

4,580 

8,140 

31,600 

19,400 

~ 

Z 

tIl 

Japan 

Kazakhstan 

2,660 

8,070 

1,860 

5,660 

13,500 

23,200 120,000 83,000 190,000 

2,660 

128,000 

1,860 

88,700 

13,500 

213,000 

s: Netherlands 17 II 61 17 II 61 

r' 

fJJ Portugal 501 323 719 501 323 719 

.-< Russia 31,400 21,600 101,000 40 31 150 1,390 786 1,020 33,000 21,900 56,500 65,800 44,300 159,000 

~ 

Gl 

8 

r 

South Africa 20 

Sweden 20 

Turkey 2,770 

See footnotes at end of table. 

II 

14 

1,970 

61 

103 

9,410 

353 193 762 

20 14 64 

243,000 

11,100 

8,690 

119,000 

7,370 

5,680 

248,000 

22,300 

16,000 

244,000 

11,100 

11,500 

120,000 

7,390 

7,660 

249,000 

22,400 

25,500 

t->

:= 
(') 

:r:: 

i 

~ := 

~ 

~ 

g 

Not more than 0.5% carbon 

(HTS2 code 7202.49.5090) 

Gross Cr 

weight content 

(metric (metric Value 

TABLE 5-Continued 

u.s. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF FERROCHROMIUM, BY COUNTRyl 

More than 0.5% carbon, but 

not more than 3% carbon 

(HTS2 code 7202.49.50102 

Gross Cr 

weight content 

(metric (metric Value 

More than 3% carbon, but 

not more than 4% c~rbon More than 4% carbon 

{HTS2 code 7202.49.10002 {HTS2 code 7202.41.00002 

Gross Cr Gross Cr 

weight content weight content 

(metric (metric Value (metric {metric Value 

Gross 

weight 

(metric 

Total all grades 

Cr 

content 

{metric Value 

!:l 

~ lData are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2Harmonized Tariff Schedule ofthe United States ofAmerica. 

JLess than Y, unit. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau. 

:-' 

-.] 
:::; TABLE 6 

QO 

;; 

u.s. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF CHROMIUM MATERIALS, BY TYPE' 

ti 2011 ~ Z Valuel Sources in 2011 (") 

m HTS2 code Type (metric tqns) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands) (Quantity in metric Ions, value in thousands) 

~ 

~ .2610.00.0020 

)­

V> 

m 151 $80 South Africa (71, $44); India (54, $3); Canada (25, $22), Germany (1, $11). 

~ Cr203 content XX 78 XX 

2610.00.0040 More than 40%, but less than 46% Cr20 3: 

Gross weight 65,400 $11,000 27,900 7,040 South Africa (aU). 

Cr20 3 conlent 29,900 XX 12,600 XX 

2610.00.0060 46% or more Cr203: 

Gross weight 73,600 ' 18,600 163,000 60,700 South Africa (163,000, $60,700); Germany (I, $10); Netherlands (I, $8). 

Cr20 3 content XX XX 

Total chromile ore: 

Gross weight 139,000 29,500 r 191,000 67,900 

Cr20l content ~OOO' XX 103,000 XX 

Chromium ferroalloys: 

Ferrochromium: 

7202.495090 Not more than 0.5% carbon: 

Gross weight 49,900 159,000 53,700 186,000 Russia (31,400, $101,000); Kazakhstan (8,070, $23,200); Germany (6,540, 

Cr content 34,300 XX 37,100 XX $31,600); Turkey (2,770, $9,410); Japan (2,660, $13,500); Brazil (1,220, 

$3,170); China (708, $2,460); Albania (284, $593); Belgium (61, $266); 

South Africa (20, $61); Sweden (20, $103); Netherlands (17, $61). 

7202.49.5010 More than 0.5%, but less than 3% carbon: 

, Gross weight 2,370 • 5,320 • 393 • 912 • South Africa (353, $762); Russia (40, $150). 

Crcontent 1,450 • XX' 224 • XX' 

More than 3%, but less than 4% carbon: 

~ Gross weight 1,170 • 1,290 • 1,510 • 1,200' Russia (1,390, $1,020); India (95, $105); Turkey (20, $64). 

'" Cr content 697 • XX • 855 • XX' 

gJ More than 4% carbon: 

a 

S 

Cl 

Gross weight 

Crcontent 

454,000 • 

261,000 • 

597,000 • 

. 462,000 • 

265,000 • 

602,000' South Africa (243,000, $248,000); Kazakhstan (120,000, $190,000); Russia' 

XX' (33,000, $56,500); Zimbabwe (23,800, $37,000); India (13,400, $19,300);' 

~ Sweden (11,100, $22,300); Turkey (8,690, $16,000); Albania (8,520, $12,500); • 

r' 7202.50.0000 Portugal (SOl, $719); Finland (214, $212); Vietnam (150, $360); China (3, $9).• V>

c: 17,000 28,200 20,000 33,600 Kazakhstan (17,100, $28,258); Russia (2,880, $5,337). 

~ Cr content 7,210 XX 7,820 XX m 

-< Tolal Chromium ferroalloys: 

~ 

Z 

Gross weight 

Cr content 

524,000 

305,000 

791,000 

XX 

538,000 

311,000 

824,000 

xX 

~ Chromium metal, gross weight: 

r' 

<:Il 8112.21.1 000 Unwrought chromium powders 1,860 22,800 2,720 40,000 China (1,660, $23,500); Russia (435, $5,510); United Kingdom (323, $4,840); 

-<m;.­ 8112.22.0000 Waste and scrap 544 2,260 574 

France (279, $5,190); Germany (14, $613); Japan (5, $214); India (4, $55). 

2,090 Mexico (545, $1,620); United Kingdom (13, SI21); Germany (12, $200); 

~ Singapore (3, $54); Japan (I, $100). 

a 

a 

r tv

:=

-
g 	 TABLE 6-Continued 

U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF CHROMIUM MATERIALS, BY TYPE' 

! 

25 

2010 2011 

Quantity Value3 Quantity Value3 Sources in 20 II 

o HTS2 code 	 Type (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands) (Quantity in metric tons, value in thousands) 

8112.29.0000 Other than waste and scrap 	 10,600 123,000 ' 10,300 150,000 Russia (3,580, $49,200); United Kingdom (2,850, $41,300); France (2,210, ;; $35,200); China (1,530, $21,000); Germany (99, $2,020); Netherlands (57, d

:;; 	 $784); Japan (16, $360). 

z Total chromium metal 	 13,000 148,000 13,600 192,000

Q Chemicals, gross weight: 

Chromium oxides and hydroxides: 

~ 2819.10.0000 Chromium trioxides 5,050 14,100 5,770 18,700 Turkey (4,460, $12,300); China (445, $2,950); Kazakhstan (427, $1,580); 

Vl South Africa (245, $831); Colombia (82, $592); Canada (40, $131); Netherlands 

.!:l (36, $140); Spain (20, $143); Mexico (6, $18); France (4, $17); Germ~ny (I, $13). 

2819.90.0000 Other 3,200 13,800 1,330 8,550 China (859, $5,530); Germany (202, $1,650); India (80, $400); Kazakhstan (57, 

$373); Canada (47, $60); France (38, $250); Finland (21, $103); Japan (17, $113); 

Colombia (9, $70). 

Total oxides 8,240 27,900 7,100 27,300 

2833.29.4000 Sulfates of chromium 32.5 351 308 368 Turkey (234, $263); China (40, $50); India (17, $20); Mexico (17, $29). 

Salts of oxometallic or peroxometallic acids: 

2841.90.4500 Chromates oflead and zinc 168 701 144 628 China (44, $203); Japan (37, $163); Austria (36, $127); Colombia (26, $128). 

2841.30.0000 	 Sodium dichromate 150 438 268 772 China (20 I, $602); Turkey (54, $110); Colombia (13, $57). 


Other chromates and dichromates; 


Peroxochromates: 

2841.50.1000 Potassium dichromate 12 59 18 71 Austria (all). 

2841.50.9100 Other 439 1,530 243 936 Austria (185, $613); Brazil (19, $54); Germany (16, $139); France (10, $41); 

Colombia (7, $24); China (3, $19); Canada (2, $8); Taiwan (I, $25). 

Total salts 769 2,730 673 2,410 

2849.90.2000 Chromium carbide 242 4,370 276 5,690 China (114, $1,990); United Kingdom (95, $1,540); Canada (47, $1,230); Austria 

(10, $541); Germany (5, $228); Hong Kong (3, $57); Mexico (I, $90); Japan 

(I, $19). 

Total chromium chemicals 9,580 35,400 8,350 35,700 

Pigments and preparations based on chromium, 

gross weight: 

3206.20.00 I 0 Chrome yellow 1,550 7,030 1,990 8,980 China (1,150, $3,990); Canada (605, $4,020); Colombia (128, $536); Mexico 

(65, $274); Germany (41, $152). 

3206.20.0020 Molybdenum orange 349 2,730 328 2,790 Canada (237, $2,230); Colombia (65, $386); Mexico (19, $112); China (4, $27); 

Germany (3, $29). 

3206.20.0030 Zinc yellow 92 282 25 80 China (19, $56); Mexico (5, $21); Canada (I, $3). 

3206.20.0050 Other 292 1,540 306 1,740 France (143, $507); China (46, $334); Poland (38, $275); Germany (32, $266); 

Japan (19, $142); India (14, $135); Canada (9, $39); Italy (5, $23); United 

Kingdom (I, $9). 

Total pigments 	 2,280 11,600 2,650 13,600 

'Revised. XX Not applicable. -- Zero. 

I Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States of America. 

3Customs import value generally represents a value in the foreign country, and therefore, excludes U.S. import duties, freight, insurance, and other charges incurred in bringing the merchandise into the United States. 

:--' 'Correction posted June 25, 2013. 

'" 
TABLE 7 


WORLD PRODUCTION CAPACITY AND APPARENT CONSUMPTION OF CHROMITE ORE, 


FERROCHROMIUM, CHROMIUM METAL, CHROMIUM CHEMICALS, AND STAINLESS STEEL" i 


(Thousand metric tons of contained chromium) 


Production capacity in 20 II 

2 Ferro- Stainless Apparent consumption

Country 

Afghanistan 

Ore 

2 

chromium Metal Chemicals steel 2009 

2 

2010 

2 

2011 

2 NA 

ppf 

NA NA 

Albania 87 8 7 -49 -29 2.77 NA NA 

Argentina 13 20 43 36 3.05 NA NA 

Austria II 39 67 -9 3.89 NA NA 

Belgium 259 177 243 266 3.98 NA NA 

Brazil 193 72 83 98 155 165 3.13 43.3 0.54 

Canada 16 30 27 3.85 79.4 6 0.56 6 

China 60 1,430 6 70 2,210 6,740 7,690 8,260 3.52 43.1 0.30 

Czech Republic 3 18 24 16 3.14 NA NA 

Finland 185 126 170 48 15 41 4.05 92.4 0.59 

France 7 52 77 117 107 3.85 NA NA 

Germany 18 I 267 325 514 550 4.03 NA NA 

Greece (7) 2 2.83 NA NA 

India 1,170 480 (7) 31 330 732 587 900 3.08 12.4 0.25 

Iran 81 5 2 77 75 75 2.49 NA NA 

Italy 271 308 402 432 3.67 NA NA 

Japan II 17 655 509 877 872 3.93 NA NA 

Kazakhstan 1,140 852 2 37. 330 1,130 1,140 2.69 17.0 0.32 

Korea, Republic of 361 385 526 504 3.70 NA NA 

Madagascar 42 (7) NA 42 2.72 42.0 0.38 

Oman 259 192 54 186 2.89 Nt>­ NA 

Pakistan 52 3 6 -90 -56 2.83 NA NA 

Philippines 5 4 4 5 3.02 13.0 0.33 

Poland 13 27 27 3.43 51.2 0.45 

Russia 275 353 16 31 31 497 275 23 2.58 24.6 0.30 

Slovenia 20 14 22 17 3.29 NA NA 

South Africa 3,270 1,920 23 112 -856 77 -391 3.67 44.5 0.33 

Spain 189 115 169 NA 3.70 57.6 0.34 

Sudan 17 -3 17 17 2.10 NA NA 

Sweden 78 116 78 73 78 3.85 85.5 0.59 

Taiwan 257 NA NA NA 3.71 NA NA 

Turkey 572 50 17 -13 -61 -29 j.51 41.0 0.50 

Ukraine 21 NA NA 27 2.85 NA NA 

United Arab Emirates 10 7 8 NA 3.78 NA NA 

United Kingdom 7 60 43 37 45 3.90 NA NA 

United States 38 420 165 335 393 3.93 65.1 8 0.43 8 

Vietnam 31 NA NA 12 3.00 14.4 0.30 

. Zimbabwe -=-::-:8c::5__---=--:.2~0:_-_:_:,___--_:_::_=__-_::_:c:_:_--_:C2='9=_--'3=_=4='=9,___----1_=8:"c1_---'2::.5=5=:--_-=2~1.:::8--0::.2=1': Total 7,650 5,530 40 282 5,900 XX XX XX XX XX XX 

'Estimated. NA Not Available. XX Not applicable. -- Zero. 


i Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 


2Estimated based on U.S. Geological Survey reported chromite ore production and United Nations trade statistics (COMTRADE) assuming that chromite ore 


imports are reported in contained Cr203; chromium ferroalloys, contained chromium; and exports, gross weight. 


3Logistics Performance Index from Connecting to Compcte 2012, The World Bank. 


4Policy Potential Index from Survey ofMining Industries 2011-\2, Frasier Institute. 


SCurrent Mineral Potential from Survey ofMining Industries 2011-12, Frasier Institute. 


60ntario. 


7Less than Y, unit. 


8Average over multiple States. 


17.20 [ADVANCE RELEASE] U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK-2011 
Total 

TABLE 8 


CHROMITE: WORlD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRy1

,2 


(Metric tons, gross weight) 

2007 2008 2009 2010 

6,491 6,500 r 6,000 6,000 6,500 

199,771 207,104 '288,759 289,687 290,000 

253,400 224,809 119,314 

627,772 ,664,347 365,210 520,129 r 520,200 p,5 

200,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 

556,100 613,543 246,817 245,000 245,000 

1,400 5 1,400 1,400 1,400 1,600 

3,320,000 3,900,000 3,760,000 3,800,000 3,850,000 

185,760 268,586 255,129 250,000 • 250,000 

3,687,200 3,552,000 3,544,000 3,760,000 r,' 3,800,000 

77,700 r 112,600 r 131,800 r 134,500 ' 140,000 

407,822 859,748 636,482 801,856 616,700 5 

108,000 r 104,000 r 174,000 r 120,000 r 130,000 

31,592 15,268 14,322 r 14,807 r 15,000 

776,681 913,000 416,194 400,000 e 450,000 

9,646,958 9,682,640 7,560,938 10,871,095 10,200,000 

15,476 27,094 14,087 56,823 57,000 

1,678,932 , 1,885,712 1,573,993 1,904,461 ' 1,900,000 

19,000 34,350 23,770 25,000 

103,830 55,880 37,105 40,000 r 40,000 

44~,584 r 193,673 r 614,559 r __C-'-C2.::-'--,.-_-'-'-'-'-'- 510,000 r 600,000_____ 

22,500,000 '23,800,000' 19,~Q"'0,"-000"_"'__r_ _=_:1c:.::.::.!.:..::.::_____'==::...:...:L.:...:. 24,000,000 r 23,300,000_____ 

<Estimated. PPre1iminary. 'Revised.•• Zero. 

'World totals and estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2Table includes data available through August 22,2012. 

3Figures for all countries represent marketable output unless otherwise noted. 

4Gross weight estimated assuming an average grade of 44% chromic oxide (Cr203)' 

~eported figure. 

"Ore grade was 18% to 42% chromic oxide (Cr203)' 

7Average chromic ol'ide (Cr203) content was as follows: 2007-40.3%; 2008-42.5%; 2009-40,0%; 

2010-49.7% (revised); and 2011-49.7% (estimated). 

CHROMIUM-20Il [ADVANCE RELEASE] 17.21 
TABLE 9 


FERRO CHROMIUM: WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY" 2 


(Metric tons, gross weight) 


. Country 2007 2008 2009 2010 201l e 

Albania 11,916 7,556 8,000 C 8,000 

Brazie 195,890 194,324 131,048 277,114 ' 277,000 P 

China' 1,300,000 1,500,000 1,810,000 2,400,000 ' 2,600,000 

Finland 241,760 233,550 123,310 125,000 ' 125,000 

Germany 22,030 26,960 13,667 17,300 ',C 17,800 

Indiae,4 820,000 750,000 873,385 5 850,000 830,000 

Iran' 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 

JaEan6 12,016 13,888 7,698 16,208 16,000 

Kazakhstan 1,307,536 1,220,315 1,173,286 1,311,302 !,300,000 

Romania' 6,000 ' 15,000 ' 14,000 ' 

Russia' 570,000 490,000 378,000 5 414,000 430,000 

South Africa 3,551,983 3,268,659 2,346,132 ' 3,607,132 3,700,000 

Sweden 124,403 117,053 31,345 36,000 C 36,000 

Turkey 69,730 79,840 41,028 60,000 e 60,000 

United States? W W W 

Zimbabwe 187,327 145,430 72,223 146,000 ',C 140,000 

Total 8,410,000 8,070,000 ' 7,030,000 ' 9,290,000 ' 9,550,000 

eEstimated. PPreliminary. 'Revised. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; not included in "Total." -- Zero. 

'World totals and estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2Table includes data available through August 22,2012. 

3Includes high- and low-carbon ferrochromium. 

4Reported on a fiscal year basis, which is from April I to March 31. Includes ferrochrome and charge chrome. 

SReported figure. 

6Includes high- and low-carbon ferrochromium and ferrochromium-silicon. 

?Includes chromium metal, high- and low-carbon ferrochromium, ferrochromium-silicon, and other chromium materials. 

17.22 [ADVANCE RELEASE] U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK-2011 
EUSGS 

science for a changing world 

2011 Minerals Yearbook 


CHROMIUM [ADVANCE RELEASE] 


u.s. Department of the Interior ' April 2013 

U.S. Geological Survey [Revised June 2013]