Chromium Overview

Chromium is the most abundant of the Group VIA family of metallic elements, comprising chromium, molybdenum and tungsten.

Chromium ore, or chromite, occurs exclusively in ultramafic igneous rocks like the Bushveld or Stillwater Complexes. Commercial chromite deposits occur mainly in two forms: stratiform deposits in layers in basin-like intrusions, and podiform or lenticular deposits. Mining is carried out in both open-pit and underground mining operations.

Reserves & Resources
The most intensive mining is now in the Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa. According to the United States Geological Survey, world resources of chromite exceed 11 billion tonnes, sufficient to meet world demand for many centuries. South Africa and Zimbabwe hold about 90% of the world's chromite reserves and resources

Demand and Supply
Demand has been expanding by ~5% annually over the past decade. Supply has followed closely with an average growth rate of 4.6% per annum. World production of chromite in 2006 was 19 million tonnes, with South Africa being the largest producer of both chromite and ferrochromium, followed by Kazakhstan and India. Between 1994-1999 chrome ore production stagnated; picked up in 2000 due to rising global stainless steel demand and production in China

Uses & Applications
Chromium is an extremely versatile element and finds a wide variety of uses in applications in the stainless steel and alloy, chemical and refractory industries.

2006 World Production Uses:

95% - Converted into various ferrochromium alloys for use in the stainless steel and other alloy industries 3% - Refractory use and foundry sands 2% - Chromium chemicals (primarily sodium chromate - used for tanning leather, coloured pigments in paint, plastics and ceramics, chromium plating, etc.)

Reserves & Resources

Source: International Chromium Development Association