Atomic properties
Market data
Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Form | Grade/Quality | Price Paid by Refiners | Major Sources | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chromite Ore (Metallurgical) | 40-46% Cr₂O₃, Cr:Fe 1.5-2.5:1 | $240-320/MT | South Africa, Kazakhstan | For ferrochrome production |
| Chromite Ore (Chemical) | 44-50% Cr₂O₃, Low SiO₂ | $320-380/MT | Turkey, South Africa | For chemical production |
| Chromite Ore (Refractory) | 30-38% Cr₂O₃, High Al₂O₃ | $180-240/MT | Philippines, India | For refractory materials |
| Chromite Concentrate | 48-54% Cr₂O₃ | $380-450/MT | Various beneficiation plants | Upgraded ore for direct use |
Chromite Ore - Primary Raw Material
Current Market Price: $240-380/MT FOB (varies by Cr₂O₃ content and location) Major Global Reserves: South Africa: 5.5 billion MT (72% of world reserves) - Bushveld Complex Kazakhstan: 230 million MT - Aktobe and Karaganda regions India: 100 million MT - Sukinda Valley, Odisha Turkey: 26 million MT - Guleman and Eskisehir deposits 2025 Production Leaders: South Africa: 18.2 million MT (41% of global production) Kazakhstan: 7.3 million MT Turkey: 6.8 million MT India: 4.1 million MT Raw Material Form Grade/Quality Price Paid by Refiners Major Sources Notes Chromite Ore (Metallurgical) 40-46% Cr₂O₃, Cr:Fe 1.5-2.5:1 $240-320/MT South Africa, Kazakhstan For ferrochrome production Chromite Ore (Chemical) 44-50% Cr₂O₃, Low SiO₂ $320-380/MT Turkey, South Africa For chemical production Chromite Ore
⚠️ Seawater Chromium Extraction
Commercial Viability: NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE Concentration: 0.00005 ppm (0.05 ppb) - extremely trace amounts Chemical Form: Cr(III) as Cr(OH)₃⁰ and CrO₄²⁻ (chromate) in oxidized surface waters Status: No commercial concentrated seawater chromium form exists. The ultra-low concentration (10,000x lower than aluminum) makes extraction completely uneconomical. Note: Chromium in seawater exists in two oxidation states - Cr(III) and Cr(VI), with environmental concerns about Cr(VI) toxicity.
Production cost analysis
| Cost Component | $/MT Chromium Metal | % of Total Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromite Ore (2.5-3 MT needed) | $600-960 | 15-20% | For high-purity metal production |
| Energy (Electricity + Fuel) | $1,200-1,800 | 35-40% | Aluminothermic process + electrolysis |
| Aluminum (Reducing Agent) | $800-1,200 | 20-25% | 0.4-0.5 MT Al per MT Cr |
| Labor | $300-500 | 8-10% | Specialized workforce required |
| Other Materials & Overhead | $600-1,040 | 15-22% | Refractories, acids, maintenance |
| Total Production Cost | $3,500-5,500 | 100% | Compare to selling price: $7,500-12,000/MT |
Energy consumption breakdown
| Process Stage | Energy Consumption | % of Total Energy | Energy Type | Key Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrochrome Smelting | 100-120 MJ/kg | 50-55% | Electricity | Electric arc furnace at 1700°C |
| Aluminothermic Reduction | 40-50 MJ/kg | 20-25% | Chemical Energy | Exothermic reaction Cr₂O₃ + 2Al → 2Cr + Al₂O₃ |
| Electrolytic Refining | 30-40 MJ/kg | 15-20% | Electricity | Electrorefining to 99.95% purity |
| Crushing & Beneficiation | 10-15 MJ/kg | 5-8% | Electricity | Ore processing and concentration |
Ferrochrome Production Energy Details
Ore Preheating: 8-10% - Heating to 600-800°C Smelting: 35-40% - Electric arc furnace operation Electrode Consumption: 3-4% - Carbon electrode losses Cooling & Granulation: 2-3% - Product handling Dust Collection: 1-2% - Environmental controls
Metal Refining Energy Details
Aluminothermic Ignition: 2-3% - Reaction initiation Temperature Control: 10-12% - Managing exothermic reaction Electrolytic Cell: 15-18% - DC power for refining Hydrogen Annealing: 3-4% - Degassing and purification Powder Production: 5-7% - Atomization or reduction
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium Metal (Electrolytic) | Cr | 51.996 g/mol | 99.95-99.99% | $7.50-12.00 | Superalloys, targets, electronics |
| Chromium Metal (Aluminothermic) | Cr | 51.996 g/mol | 99.0-99.5% | $6.00-8.50 | Steel alloys, hard chrome plating |
| Ferrochrome (High Carbon) | FeCr (50-70% Cr) | Variable | 50-70% Cr, 4-8% C | $1.50-2.20 | Stainless steel production |
| Ferrochrome (Low Carbon) | FeCr (65-75% Cr) | Variable | 65-75% Cr, | $2.80-3.50 | Low-carbon stainless steel |
| Chromium Oxide Green | Cr₂O₃ | 151.99 g/mol | 99.0-99.9% | $3.50-6.00 | Pigments, refractories, catalysts |
| Chromic Acid | CrO₃ | 99.99 g/mol | 99.5-99.9% | $2.80-4.50 | Chrome plating, wood preservation |
| Sodium Dichromate | Na₂Cr₂O₇·2H₂O | 298.00 g/mol | 99.5% | $1.20-1.80 | Leather tanning, metal finishing |
| Chromium Powder (Electrolytic) | Cr | 51.996 g/mol | 99.5-99.95% | $15.00-35.00 | Powder metallurgy, coatings |
| Chromium Powder (Gas Atomized) | Cr | 51.996 g/mol | 99.0-99.5% | $25.00-50.00 | 3D printing, thermal spray |
| Chromium Carbide | Cr₃C₂ | 180.01 g/mol | 99.0-99.5% | $12.00-20.00 | Wear-resistant coatings |
| Basic Chromium Sulfate | Cr(OH)SO₄ | 165.07 g/mol | 24-26% Cr₂O₃ | $0.80-1.20 | Leather tanning |
| Potassium Dichromate | K₂Cr₂O₇ | 294.18 g/mol | 99.5-99.9% | $2.50-4.00 | Laboratory reagent, oxidizer |
Suppliers by country
🇿🇦 South Africa
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Glencore-Merafe | Ferrochrome (HC, MC, LC), chromite ore | World's largest ferrochrome producer, integrated mining |
| Samancor Chrome | Ferrochrome, chromite ore, chrome chemicals | Integrated producer, chemical-grade chromite |
| Tharisa | Chromite concentrate, specialty grades | PGM co-production, beneficiation technology |
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) | Ferrochrome, chromite ore, metal powders | Vertically integrated, Kazchrome division |
| TNC Kazchrome | HC ferrochrome, LC ferrochrome, chromium metal | Low-cost producer, large-scale operations |
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Sinosteel | Ferrochrome, chromium metal, chrome chemicals | Integrated producer, advanced refining |
| Mintal Group | Chromium metal, electrolytic chromium | High-purity metal, powder production |
| CITIC Jinzhou Metal | Chromium metal, ferrochrome | Large-scale metal production |
🇮🇳 India
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Tata Steel | Ferrochrome, chromite ore | Integrated steel producer, captive mines |
| IMFA (Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys) | Ferrochrome, specialty alloys | Low-carbon ferrochrome, green power |
| Balasore Alloys | HC ferrochrome, chromite ore | Cost-effective production |
🇹🇷 Turkey
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Yilmaden Holding | Chromite ore, ferrochrome, chemicals | Chemical-grade chromite, sodium dichromate |
| Eti Krom | HC ferrochrome, chromite concentrate | High-grade chromite mining |
🇫🇮 Finland
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Outokumpu | Ferrochrome, stainless steel | Integrated stainless producer, low-carbon ferrochrome |
🇷🇺 Russia
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Russian Chromium 1915 | Chromium metal, chrome chemicals | High-purity chromium, sodium dichromate |
| Chelyabinsk Electrometallurgical | Ferrochrome, ferroalloys | Specialty grades, custom alloys |
Market demand by product form
| Product Form | Global Market Size | China Market | Europe Market | Growth Rate (CAGR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrochrome (All Grades) | $28 billion | 52% consumption | 18% consumption | 3.8% |
| Chromium Metal | $950 million | 45% consumption | 25% consumption | 5.2% |
| Chrome Chemicals | $4.2 billion | 38% consumption | 22% consumption | 4.5% |
| Chromium Oxide | $1.8 billion | 40% consumption | 20% consumption | 4.0% |
| Chromium Powder (All Types) | $380 million | 35% consumption | 30% consumption | 7.5% |
| - Electrolytic Powder | $180 million | 32% consumption | 35% consumption | 6.8% |
| - Gas Atomized Powder | $120 million | 30% consumption | 40% consumption | 9.5% |
| - Aluminothermic Powder | $80 million | 45% consumption | 20% consumption | 5.0% |
| Refractory Chrome | $650 million | 48% consumption | 15% consumption | 3.2% |
Market trends
Stainless Steel Drive: 85% of chromium consumption for stainless steel production, growing at 4% annually Environmental Pressure: Stricter regulations on Cr(VI) compounds driving shift to Cr(III) alternatives Supply Concentration: South Africa controls 72% of reserves, creating supply chain vulnerabilities Energy Costs: High electricity consumption in ferrochrome production driving relocations to low-cost energy regions Powder Market Growth: Additive manufacturing driving 9.5% CAGR in spherical powder demand Green Ferrochrome: Development of hydrogen-based reduction processes (pilot stage) China Consolidation: Environmental closures reducing Chinese ferrochrome capacity by 15%
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium Metal | Cr | 51.996 | 19.23 |
| Chromium(III) Oxide | Cr₂O₃ | 151.99 | 6.58 |
| Chromic Acid | CrO₃ | 99.99 | 10.00 |
| Sodium Dichromate (dihydrate) | Na₂Cr₂O₇·2H₂O | 298.00 | 3.36 |
| Potassium Dichromate | K₂Cr₂O₇ | 294.18 | 3.40 |
| Chromium Carbide | Cr₃C₂ | 180.01 | 5.56 |
References
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