U.S.Geological Survey (USGS): Chromium

Statistics and Information: Chromium (Cr) has a wide range of uses in metals, chemicals, and refractories. It is one of the Nation's most important strategic and critical materials. Chromium use in iron, steel, and nonferrous alloys enhances hardenability and resistance to corrosion and oxidation. The use of chromium to produce stainless steel and nonferrous alloys are two of its more important applications. Other applications are in alloy steel, plating of metals, pigments, leather processing, catalysts, surface treatments, and refractories.

Chromium
(Data in thousand metric tons of gross weight unless otherwise noted)

U.S. Domestic Production and Use: In 2008, the United States consumed about 10% of world chromite ore production in various forms of imported materials, such as chromite ore, chromium chemicals, chromium ferroalloys, chromium metal, and stainless steel. One U.S. company mined chromite ore in Oregon. Imported chromite was consumed by one chemical firm to produce chromium chemicals. One company produced ferrochromium and chromium metal. Stainless- and heat-resisting-steel producers were the leading consumers of ferrochromium. Superalloys require chromium. The value of chromium material consumption in 2007 was $548 million as measured by the value of net imports, excluding stainless steel, and was expected to be about $1,800 million in 2008.

U.S. Recycling: In 2008, recycled chromium (that contained in reported stainless steel scrap receipts adjusted for stainless steel and chromium metal scrap trade) accounted for 32% of apparent consumption. 

U.S. Import Sources (2004-07): Chromium contained in chromite ore, chromium ferroalloys and metal, and stainless steel mill products: South Africa, 35%; Kazakhstan, 19%; Russia, 6%; Zimbabwe, 5%; and other, 35%.

U.S. Tariff: (1)

U.S. Depletion Allowance: 22% (Domestic), 14% (Foreign).

U.S Government Stockpile: In fiscal year (FY) 2008, which ended on September 30, 2008, the Defense Logistics Agency, Defense National Stockpile Center (DNSC), reported sales of 29,357 tons of high-carbon ferrochromium, 22,710 tons of low-carbon ferrochromium, and 327 tons of chromium metal. As a result of a July 2008 change in DNSC’s method of computing inventory, the FY 2008 change in reported inventory does not accurately reflect the change in physical inventory. Disposals in the following table are based on DNSC’s reported sales. Metallurgical-grade chromite ore and ferrochromium silicon stocks were exhausted in FY 2002; chemical- and refractory-grade chromite ore stocks were exhausted in FY 2004. The DNSC announced maximum disposal limits for FY 2009 of about 136,000 tons of ferrochromium (high- and low-carbon combined) and 907 tons of chromium metal. At the current maximum disposal rate, ferrochromium stocks will be exhausted in FY 2011; chromium metal, in FY 2014.

Events, Trends, and Issues: The price of ferrochromium reached historically high levels in 2008. China’s role as a chromium consumer grew along with its stainless steel production industry. China’s importance as a consumer of raw materials used in stainless steel production increased owing to its strong economic growth and the expansion of its stainless steel production. China’s stainless steel production exceeded that of the United States beginning in 2004 and by 2008 was 335% greater than that of the United States. The U.S. financial problems and the subsequent economic slowdown were expected to result in reduced chromium material consumption and production, factors that could cause prices to decrease.

World Mine Production, Reserves, and Reserve Base: The Indian reserves and reserve base were revised based on information reported by the Government of India. The reserves and reserve base of Kazakhstan were revised based on new information published by mining companies. The reserves and reserve base of South Africa were recalculated to be consistent with those of India and Kazakhstan.

World Resources: World resources are greater than 12 billion tons of shipping-grade chromite, sufficient to meet conceivable demand for centuries. About 95% of the world's chromium resources is geographically concentrated in Kazakhstan and southern Africa; U.S. chromium resources are mostly in the Stillwater Complex in Montana.

Substitutes: Chromium has no substitute in stainless steel, the leading end use, or in superalloys, the major strategic end use. Chromium-containing scrap can substitute for ferrochromium in metallurgical uses.

(e) Estimated. NA Not available.
(W) Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data. — Zero.
(1)  In addition to the tariff items listed, certain imported chromium materials (see 26 U.S.C. sec.4661, 4662, and 4672) are subject to excise tax.
(2)  Disposal plan for ferrochromium without distinction between high-carbon and low-carbon ferrochromium; total included in high-carbon.
(3)  Mine production units are thousand metric tons, gross weight, of marketable chromite ore.
(4)  Reserves and reserve base units are thousand metric tons of shipping-grade chromite ore, which is deposit quantity and grade normalized to 45% Cr2O3

U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2009