How much chromium does South Africa produce and export?
South Africa is the largest producer of chromium: 23 million tonnes in 2025, 45% of the world's 51 million tonnes (USGS MCS). It is the largest exporter by value: $7.2 billion in 2024, 85% of world exports of chromium ore (HS 2610) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is China, which takes 66% of its chromium exports by value.
All about chromium · All about South Africa
South Africa's chromium production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 million tonnes | 45% | — | 2025 |
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, MCS 2026.
South Africa's chromium exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.2 billion | 85% | 22 million t | $325 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 2610 (Chromium ores and concentrates).
Where South Africa's chromium goes
| Destination | Value | Share of South Africa's exports |
|---|---|---|
| China | $4.7B | 66% |
| Mozambique | $1.9B | 26% |
| Hong Kong | $87M | 1.2% |
| India | $74M | 1% |
| Indonesia | $67M | 0.9% |
South Africa as a buyer of chromium
South Africa imported $54 million of chromium ore (HS 2610) in 2024, 0.6% of world imports, ranked #9.
Cite as: Commodity Origins, "South Africa chromium: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/ZAF/chromium/ (CC BY 4.0). Rankings count only countries reporting to the sources named; this page is shown only for top-five producers or exporters with at least 3% of the world total. Report an issue with this page.