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L'embargo européen sur le chrome (métal) russe profite à la Chine

RFI le : 05/03/2025

C'est une des conséquences du seizième paquet des sanctions européennes contre la Russie, adopté le 24 février : le chrome russe, un métal, prisé pour sa résistance à la corrosion et utilisé pour la fabrication d'aciers et d'alliages, utilisés dans l'industrie automobile et aérospatiale notamment, n'est plus le bienvenu en territoire européen. Mais comme pour beaucoup de matières premières produites en Russie, les Européens ont déjà appris à s'en passer.

Les traders en métaux ont peu à peu éliminé le chrome russe de leur portefeuille ces derniers mois, car les utilisateurs finaux, en particulier ceux qui fabriquent de l'acier, ont montré qu'ils étaient réticents à se fournir en Russie. Donc, à quelques exceptions près, le métal russe a disparu des chaînes d'approvisionnement européennes, relève le cabinet Argus Media.

Mais cela n'en est pas moins un coup porté à la Russie, car l'Europe a été pendant longtemps son principal marché. Les ventes russes sur le territoire européen ont chuté en 2024 et depuis plusieurs mois également, un important producteur russe a cessé son activité en raison de difficultés d'approvisionnement en oxyde de chrome, un composé essentiel pour produire le métal.

La Chine gagne des parts de marché

Cette nouvelle donne profite à la Chine et ce n'est pas une grosse surprise. Le pays était jusque-là le principal concurrent de la Russie pour la fourniture de métal de qualité standard. L'empire du Milieu a donc naturellement gagné des parts de marché : l'essentiel du métal acheté sur le marché spot européen — pour une livraison immédiate — est aujourd'hui chinois, selon les données d'Argus Media

Deux producteurs européens ont aussi augmenté leur production de chrome de haute qualité, commercialisé à prix plus élevé. Les États-Unis aimeraient également proposer une offre alternative et lancer une chaîne de production du métal, mais à court terme, il est peu probable que le projet aboutisse, parce qu'une fois encore, la Chine a largement de quoi satisfaire la demande.

Prix en hausse de 2,5 % en Europe

Pendant longtemps, la Russie a été un acteur important sur le marché et très compétitif, donc l'absence de l'offre russe en Europe a provoqué une remontée des prix, notamment parce que la demande dans le secteur de l'aérospatial reste forte.

Les prix ont gagné environ 2,5 % depuis début janvier. Cette hausse n'est peut-être pas terminée, disent les négociants, mais pourrait être limitée, car les prix à long terme sont relativement stables, note Argus Media. Les prix actuels du chrome sont identiques à ceux d'il y a un an.

La crise politique au Mozambique menace (aussi) l'offre mondiale de chrome

Agence Ecofin 16 dec 2024

Premier producteur mondial de chrome, l’Afrique du Sud fait transiter jusqu’à 50 % de ses exportations du minerai par le port de Maputo au Mozambique. Ce pays fait néanmoins face depuis plusieurs semaines à une violente crise post-électorale qui paralyse presque l’économie.

Les troubles actuels au Mozambique sont « particulièrement préoccupants » pour l’industrie du chrome en Afrique du Sud, estime le Minerals Council, qui est l’équivalent de la Chambre des Mines dans ce pays. Ce constat fait le 12 décembre peut être élargi au reste du monde, car l’Afrique du Sud détient plus de 70 % des réserves mondiales et est le premier producteur mondial du minerai.

Après la victoire contestée du candidat du parti au pouvoir, Daniel Chapo, lors de l’élection présidentielle d’octobre 2024, des troubles ont éclaté au Mozambique. Les manifestations, qui ont fait plus de 110 morts, selon une plateforme de la société civile, entravent le bon fonctionnement de l’économie et ont déjà forcé deux compagnies minières à suspendre leurs opérations. Les craintes du Minerals Council s’expliquent par le fait que plus de 50 % des exportations sud-africaines de chrome ont été expédiées à partir du port de Maputo durant les neuf premiers mois de 2024.

Alors que l’Afrique du Sud a représenté 17,8 millions de tonnes sur les 21,8 millions de tonnes de chrome exportées en 2023, il n’est pas encore possible de savoir dans quelle mesure les contraintes dans les exportations sud-africaines à partir du Mozambique impacteront le marché, notamment l’offre et les prix. Notons néanmoins qu’une croissance de la demande de chrome a été enregistrée au cours des premiers mois de 2024, ce qui a soutenu la hausse des prix.

Dans sa mise à jour sur le marché au cours du deuxième trimestre, l’International Chromium Development Association a noté que la production et le négoce du minerai ont augmenté « sous l’effet de la hausse des prix et de la consommation accrue des fonderies chinoises et africaines ». La compagnie minière Jubilee Metals indiquait dans son rapport annuel publié en octobre 2024 que le prix moyen du chrome a augmenté de 13,8 % pour atteindre 296 dollars la tonne durant son exercice financier achevé fin juin 2024.

The Kemi Mine is the only chromium mine in the European Union. Currently, the mine extracts 2.4 million tonnes of chrome ore per year. The verified size of the ore body is approximately 50 million tonnes. In addition, the volume of mineral reserves is approximately 98 million tonnes, having been evaluated to a depth of one kilometre.[2] The deposit, with an average thickness of 40 meters, is nearly vertical and approximately one kilometer in length. The depth of the ore deposit remains unclear. The ore contains 26% chromium oxide with a chrome to iron ratio of 1.6. According to the survey report by the Geological Survey of Finland, the chrome ore deposit extends to a depth of two to three kilometres, possible even to four kilometres. Previously, it was estimated that the ore and mineral reserves in Kemi would be sufficient for 70–80 years, but on the basis of more recent information, it is possible that there will be extractable ore for hundreds of years, even after the planned doubling of production.[3]

In terms of excavated volume, the mine, which opened in 1968, is among the largest in Finland, with an annual excavated volume of 2.4 million tonnes of ore. By the end of 2005, a total of 31.4 million tonnes of chromite ore had been extracted from various open-pit mines. Opened in 2003, the underground mine had produced 10.6 million tonnes of chromite ore by the end of 2013.

KWG acquires Fancamp’s chromite claims in Ring of Fire

Canadian Mining Journal Staff | July 21, 2022


The Eagle’s Nest nickel-copper-PGM project in northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire region. Credit: Wyloo Metals

Fancamp Exploration (TSXV: FNC) has agreed to sell all its rights and interests in the Koper Lake-McFaulds mineral properties, comprising four mining claims located within Ontario’s Ring of Fire, to KWG Resources (CSE: KWG). The entire property package covers 1,024 ha immediately to the east of claims owned by Wyloo Metals containing the Eagles Nest nickel-copper-platinum deposit.


KWG is currently the operator (50% interest) of the Black Horse chromite project, a key part of the Koper Lake-McFaulds property package. The Black Horse discovery was first made by Fancamp in 2011. Later exploration by KWG led to a resource estimate of 85.9 million tonnes grading 34.5% chromium oxide (Cr2O3) in the inferred category for the chromite deposit.

To secure its interest in the Koper Lake-McFaulds claims, KWG will issue to Fancamp a secured convertible promissory note in the principal amount of $34.5 million bearing interest at 6% and matures in four years. It will also issue warrants to purchase a number of KWG shares equal in value to about half of the principal amount.

Fancamp will also receive a 2% net smelter return royalty on any direct or indirect interest in the mining claims held by KWG.

“The proposed transaction simplifies some of the existing joint venture arrangements and will enable KWG to be the clear leader in the advancement and development of the mining claims and, in due course, to help finance this initiative,” Rajesh Sharma, president and CEO of Fancamp, commented.

“The proposed consideration package allows Fancamp to monetize its investment into KWG with marketable securities while providing KWG with an immediate cash injection that will permit KWG to advance various initiatives relating to the mining claims and to assist with their working capital needs,” Sharma added.

To support its development of chromite deposits in the Ring of Fire, KWG has acquired several intellectual property interests, including a method for the direct reduction of chromite to metalized iron and chrome using natural gas.

KWG also holds a 15% vested interest in the McFaulds copper-zinc project and a 30% interest in the Big Daddy chromite project, the latter of which is a joint venture with Wyloo and contains an estimated 29.1 million tonnes grading over 30% Cr2O3 measured and indicated. In addition, KWG owns 100% of CCC, which staked mining claims between Aroland, Ontario, and the Ring of Fire.

CHROMIUM

China consumes the most chromium out of any nation on Earth. But which countries produce the most chromium? South Africa takes the lead by a long shot.

Chromium is a hard, brittle gray metal with both a high melting point and corrosion resistance.

Those characteristics make it a key element in stainless steel production. In fact, chromium producers sell about 60 percent of their output to the steel industry.

The steel industry consumes chromium somewhat indirectly in that stainless steel production requires ferrochrome, an alloy of chromium and iron that contains 50 to 70 percent chromium by weight. Essentially, chromium is used to produce ferrochrome, which is then used to make steel.

China is the world’s top chromium consumer, as well as the top stainless steel producer. However, the nation has no chromium production of its own. China also has limited choices in regards to chromium imports — the US Geological Survey’s most recent report on chromium shows only five countries produced the metal in 2021.


South Africa is home to the vast majority of the world’s chromite deposits and is the largest ferrochrome and chromite ore producer. Many countries depend on South Africa for chromium imports.

Here’s a brief overview of last year’s five top chromium-producing countries. All in all, global chromium production rose year-on-year in 2021, reaching a total of 41 million metric tons (MT).

1. South Africa
Mine production: 18 million MT

South Africa produced 18 million MT of chromium in 2021. The country's output rose significantly over 2020's 13,200 million MT, and it continues to beat out the rest of the world’s chromium producers by a wide margin.

Chromium production requires a lot of energy, which can be a problem in South Africa as electrical power supply is sometimes constrained in the country. “Ore production was estimated to increase in 2021 owing to recovery of the market following the COVID-19 pandemic,” explains the US Geological Survey.

2. Kazakhstan
Mine production: 7 million MT

Last year, Kazakhstan produced 7 million MT of chromium, which is consistent with its 2020 output. One major chromium operation in the country is the Vokshod mine and plant, owned by Yildirim Group.

Diversified miner Eurasian Resources Group is also a big presence in Kazakhstan’s chromium space. The company’s ferroalloys division includes Kazchrome, which in turn is made up of four operating divisions: the Donskoy ore-mining and processing plant, the Aktobe ferroalloys plant, the Aksu ferroalloys plant and the Kazmarganets mining enterprise.

3. Turkey
Mine production: 7 million MT

Top chromium-producing country Turkey saw its production of the metal fall in 2020, reaching 8 million MT compared to 10 million MT in 2019. It fell further in 2021, dropping to 7 million MT.

Yildirim Group is a major player in the Turkish chromium industry through Eti Krom, which it acquired in 2004. Eti Krom is the world’s biggest hard lumpy marketable chrome ore producer, and is the only chrome ore supplier in Turkey that can extract chromium throughout the entire year. Yildirim Group states that Eti Krom is the only high-carbon ferrochrome producer in Turkey.

4. India
Mine production: 3 million MT

India’s chromium production came in at 3 million MT in 2021, up slightly from 2.5 million MT in 2020. Little information is available on the Indian chromium space. In a past mineral commodity summary for chromium, the US Geological Survey states that chromium ferroalloys are produced at plants in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Odisha and West Bengal.

Tata Steel has a ferroalloys and minerals division that includes Tata Tiscrome.

5. Finland
Mine production: 2.3 million MT

Finland first made it onto the list of top chromium-producing countries in 2018 with output of 2.2 million MT. In 2021, the Nordic country produced 2.3 million MT.

Finland’s major chromium-producing operation is the Kemi mine, owned by global stainless steel manufacturer Outokumpu (FWB:OUTA). “Much like Kazakhstan and India, Finland’s chromite output has been integrated with domestic ferrochrome production,” explains a report by Roskill. “This stands in contrast to South Africa, where the majority of chromite supply is now consumed by China.”

However, Finnish chromium production is still making its way to China and even India, accounting for 20 to 25 percent of Outokumpu’s ferrochrome output.

Worldwide Supply of and Demand for Chromium

The world’s production (supply) and consumption (demand) of chromium have been influenced by the global market,as demand for mineral commodities,including chromium, has increased. Chromium is traded on the world market in the form of ferrochromium, an iron-chromium alloy.

The price of ferrochromium reached historically high levels in 2008 and then declined in 2009 with a weakening world economy. During the same time period, China’s role as a chromium consumer has grown with its expanding stainless steel industry.

Ferrochromium production is an electrical energy-intensive process. Much of the electrical power currently produced is coal based, a carbon dioxide gas-producing process that is under consideration for regulation because of its impact on climate. These factors suggest that the electrical energy cost of ferrochromium production will rise in the future.