Prices
No single exchange-settled price exists for chromium. Trade settles over-the-counter against benchmarks published by independent price-reporting agencies. We do not republish those numbers — consult the publishers directly:
Asian Metal ↗
Daily benchmark quotations for chromium from Asian producers (subscription).
Fastmarkets ↗
Industry benchmark prices, market reports, and price discovery for chromium.
Shanghai Metals Market ↗
Real-time and historical Chinese spot prices for chromium.
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 ↗
Annual U.S. Geological Survey reference — production, reserves, prices, and trade statistics for chromium.
About Chromium
Editorial overviewWhat is chromium?
Chromium is a hard, corrosion-resistant transition metal used primarily to make stainless steel and other heat- and wear-resistant alloys. It is mined mostly as chromite ore and then upgraded into ferrochromium, chromium chemicals, or chromium metal. USGS MCS 2026
How chromium is priced
No active regulated exchange contract as of June 2026.
Where chromium comes from
USGS MCS 2026 shows chromium mine production is concentrated in South Africa, Kazakhstan, Turkey, India, and Zimbabwe, with South Africa the clear leader at 23,000 (2025e) and Kazakhstan at 7,000; India, Turkey, and Zimbabwe follow in the next tier. The same USGS table shows world 2025e mine production of 51,000 and reserves above 540,000 (Cr2O3 content), with reserves heavily concentrated in South Africa and Kazakhstan. USGS MCS 2026 Full breakdown in the production and reserves sections.
Who produces chromium
USGS says China was the leading ferrochromium- and stainless-steel-producing country and the leading chromium-consuming country, while South Africa was the leading chromite ore producer. On the corporate side, the chromium supply chain is dominated by major South African, Kazakh, Finnish, and Chinese ferrochrome and stainless producers; the USGS chromium summary specifically names China as the leading producer country and South Africa as the leading ore producer. USGS MCS 2026 Full list of producers below.
What chromium is used for
USGS MCS 2026 says stainless steels and superalloys require chromium via chromium-containing scrap, chromium metal, or ferrochromium, and that stainless-steel and heat-resisting-steel producers were the leading consumers of ferrochromium. World Steel’s materials pages confirm chromium is a key alloying element in stainless steel for corrosion resistance, but they do not provide a percentage breakdown by application on the cited page. USGS MCS 2026, World Steel Association
Key facts about chromium supply
- USGS MCS 2026: world chromite ore production increased by 3% in 2025 compared with 2024. USGS MCS 2026
- USGS MCS 2026: U.S. net import reliance was 79% of apparent consumption in 2025e. USGS MCS 2026
- USGS MCS 2026: recycled chromium accounted for 21% of apparent consumption in 2025. USGS MCS 2026
- USGS MCS 2026: world reserves were >540,000 and 2025e mine production was 51,000, implying more than 10 years of cover on a Cr2O3-content basis. USGS MCS 2026
Sources: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 — Chromium, World Steel Association — Steel is everywhere
Mine Production by Country
Source: USGS MCS 2026| Country | 2024 | 2025e | Reserves |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | | | 8,500 |
| Brazil | e1,400 | e2,000 | 3,900 |
| Finland | 1,940 | e1,900 | 63,000 |
| India | 3,370 | e3,000 | 79,000 |
| Kazakhstan | e6,100 | e7,000 | 230,000 |
| South Africa | 22,900 | e23,000 | 350,000 |
| Turkey | 9,300 | e9,000 | 27,000 |
| Zimbabwe | 1,600 | e2,000 | 140,000 |
| Other countries | 3,000 | e3,000 | NA |
| World total (rounded) | 49,600 | 51,000 | >1,200,000 |
Unit: thousand metric tons. "e" = estimated, "W" = withheld, "NA" = not available. Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Reserves by Country (Top 10)
Source: USGS MCS 2026| Country | Reserves (thousand metric tons) |
|---|---|
| South Africa | 350,000 |
| Kazakhstan | 230,000 |
| Zimbabwe | 140,000 |
| India | 79,000 |
| Finland | 63,000 |
| Turkey | 27,000 |
| United States | 8,500 |
| Brazil | 3,900 |
| Other countries | NA |
| World Total | >1,200,000 |
Major Producers (12)
Ranked by latest disclosed chromite/chrome productionCompanies ranked by most recently disclosed annual chromium production (kilotonnes). Each card links to the primary source (annual report, production report, or exchange filing). "Not disclosed" means the company does not publish metal-specific tonnage — common for private Chinese/state-owned groups and pre-production projects.
United Kingdom
JLP
1,933
kt Cr
FY2025
Kazakhstan
KZCR
1,850
kt Cr
FY2024
Switzerland
GLEN
1,166
kt Cr
FY2024
Finland
OUT1V
374
kt Cr
FY2024
United Kingdom
VED
240
kt Cr
FY2024
India
OMC
Undisclosed Output
Not disclosed
FY24/25
Key mines: South Kaliapani, Sukranoi, Bangur (Sukinda valley)
South Africa
Private
Undisclosed Output
Not disclosed
Key mines: Eastern Bushveld (Doornbosch, Lannex, etc.), Western Bushveld (Millsell, Mooinooi)
India
TATA
Undisclosed Output
Not disclosed
FY2024/25
Key mine: Sukinda Chromite Mines, Odisha
Turkey
Private
Undisclosed Output
Not disclosed
Undisclosed
Key facilities: Eti Krom (Turkey), Voskhod (Kazakhstan), Vargön Alloys (Sweden); consolidated capacity 550 kt FeCr, 2,500 kt chrome ore (no actual FY24/25 production found in primary sources)
Zimasco (Pvt) Ltd. (majority owned by Sinosteel, China)
Zimbabwe
Subsidiary → HKEX:1208
Undisclosed Output
Not disclosed
key mine: Shurugwi, Guinea Fowl, Mutorashanga
Latest News
All metals news →No recent news for this metal. Visit the Hub news section for all metals news.
Frequently Asked Questions
Auto-generated from primary-source dataWhich countries produce the most chromium?
The largest chromium producing countries are South Africa (22,900 thousand metric tons), Turkey (9,300 thousand metric tons), Kazakhstan (e6,100 thousand metric tons). Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026.
Which countries hold the largest chromium reserves?
The countries with the largest reported chromium reserves are South Africa (350,000 thousand metric tons), Kazakhstan (230,000 thousand metric tons), Zimbabwe (140,000 thousand metric tons). Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026.
Who are the largest global producers of chromium?
Among 780+ producers tracked on TSM Hub, the largest disclosed chromium producers include Jubilee Metals Group Plc — Chromite Recovery (South Africa) (United Kingdom), TNC Kazchrome JSC (Eurasian Resources Group / ERG) (Kazakhstan), Glencore plc — Merafe Chrome Venture (Switzerland). Some operating chromium producers do not publish metal-specific tonnage — such as Odisha Mining Corporation Ltd. (OMC) (India), Samancor Chrome (Pty) Ltd. (South Africa), Tata Steel Mining Limited (TSML) — Sukinda Chromite Mines (India) — and are listed with an “Undisclosed Output” badge instead of a rank, in line with our principle of never inventing numbers absent from primary sources. Full ranking with primary-source links is available in the producers section.
What is the primary source for chromium production and reserves data?
Country-level chromium production and reserves figures on TSM Hub are sourced directly from the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, the U.S. Geological Survey's authoritative annual reference. Company-level production figures come from each producer's official annual report, production report, or regulated exchange filing.