Chromite
Chromite is the only commercial ore of chromium, an iron chromium oxide spinel mined from layered intrusions and from podiform deposits in ophiolite belts. Most of it is smelted into ferrochrome, which is the chromium unit in stainless steel and in the alloy and tool steels that need hardness and corrosion resistance. The rest goes to chemical plants making sodium dichromate and the chrome chemicals behind pigments, leather tanning and metal finishing, to refractory brick and monolithics for furnace and ladle linings, and to foundry sand for moulds that must resist metal penetration and thermal shock.
Listed chromite markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
A chromite contract turns on the chromic oxide assay, on the chromium to iron ratio that decides what the smelter can make from it, and on the physical form, because lump, friable, chemical and foundry grades are separate products sold to separate industries.
Chemical assay
12 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Product formDeclared, as lump ore, friable or fine concentrate, chemical grade, refractory grade, or foundry sand | The form and the intended industry set the entire specification. A foundry sand and a smelter feed are graded on different terms. |
| Chromic oxidePercentage by mass, on a dry basis | Determined by X-ray fluorescence on a fused bead under ISO 12677 or by the wet chemical reference method. The payable assay and the headline grade term. |
| Chromium to iron ratioRatio, by mass | The defining metallurgical term. It caps the chromium content of the ferrochrome the smelter can produce, and it separates charge chrome from high carbon ferrochrome feed. |
| Iron as ferrous and ferric oxidePercentage by mass | Reports with the chromium in the spinel and drives the ratio. |
| SilicaPercentage by mass, maximum | Gangue, a flux and power cost at the furnace, and a penalty term. |
| AluminaPercentage by mass | Part of the spinel and part of the slag chemistry, specified on refractory grades. |
| MagnesiaPercentage by mass | Sets the slag basicity at the smelter and the refractoriness of a brick. |
| Calcium oxidePercentage by mass, maximum | A flux, and a limit on refractory grades because it lowers the softening point. |
| SulphurPercentage by mass, maximum | Carried into the alloy, and penalised. |
| PhosphorusPercentage by mass, maximum | A penalty element that follows into the steel. |
| Loss on ignitionPercentage by mass | Determined at the stated temperature, covering serpentine and hydrated gangue. |
| MoisturePercentage by mass, maximum | Determined by oven drying. Deducted from wet weight to reach the dry metric tonnes that settle. |
Physical properties
10 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Bulk densityKilograms per cubic metre, loose and tapped | Sets the hold, the stockpile, the bag and the foundry sand mixer charge. |
| Specific gravityDimensionless | A separation and quality check, and a working term for foundry sand. |
| Refractoriness and softening pointDegrees Celsius | For refractory grades, the temperature at which the brick or ramming mix begins to deform. |
| Thermal expansionPercentage linear change at the stated temperature | The property behind chromite foundry sand, which resists veining and penetration. |
| Acid demand valueReported against the named method | A foundry sand term, governing how the sand behaves with a chemically bonded binder. |
| Turbidity and clay contentReported against the named method | Fines and clay on the grain surface interfere with binder cure in a foundry. |
| Grain shape and angularityDeclared, against the named classification | Rounded to angular, which sets the flowability and the packing of a foundry sand. |
| Friability and decrepitationPercentage fines generated under the stated test | Whether the lump survives handling and the furnace charge without collapsing to fines. |
| Tumbler and abrasion indexReported against the named method | Handling durability of lump ore through transhipment. |
| Magnetic and heavy media responseReported against the named method | How the ore behaves through beneficiation and through a foundry sand reclamation circuit. |
Particle size and sizing
5 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Lump sizingMillimetres, with the percentage by mass within the stated band | Determined on test sieves conforming to ISO 3310. The furnace feed window, and oversize and undersize are both deducted. |
| Concentrate and fines sizingPercentage by mass passing the stated aperture | Fine concentrate is pelletised or sintered before smelting, and the sizing is the term the agglomeration plant buys against. |
| Foundry sand gradingAmerican Foundry Society grain fineness number, and the sieve distribution | The controlling grade term for foundry sand, quoted with the full screen analysis rather than a single number. |
| Refractory gradingPercentage by mass within each stated aperture band | The graded fractions a brick or monolithic mix is built from. |
| Fines below the stated aperturePercentage by mass, maximum | A dust, handling and penalty term. |
Payable terms, charges and deductions
7 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Price basisCurrency per dry metric tonne, or per pound of contained chromium | Lump and concentrate are usually quoted per dry metric tonne on a stated chromic oxide basis, with the reference price series named. |
| Grade escalator and de escalatorCurrency per unit of chromic oxide above or below the base grade | The pro rata adjustment that carries the assay difference from the base specification to the delivered assay. |
| Chromium to iron ratio adjustmentCurrency per unit of ratio | A premium or discount, because the ratio decides the alloy grade the smelter can produce. |
| Silica and impurity penaltiesCurrency per unit above the stated threshold | Silica, phosphorus and sulphur, each with a free limit and a rate. |
| Sizing deductionsCurrency per dry metric tonne, or a percentage of the lot | Applied to oversize and to fines outside the contract band. |
| Quotational periodDeclared | The month or averaging window over which the price is fixed against the named reference. |
| Assay exchange and splitting limitDeclared | The tolerance within which buyer and seller assays are split, and the umpire arrangement outside it. |
Contaminants and regulated substances
7 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Hexavalent chromiumMilligrams per kilogram, maximum | Chromite ore is trivalent, but oxidation in processing and in residues is regulated at the destination. It is tested where the regulation or the buyer requires it. |
| Asbestiform mineralsPass or fail, against the named analytical method | Podiform chromite sits in ophiolite host rock that can carry serpentine and amphibole fibre. Certification is required for foundry and refractory grades. |
| Respirable crystalline silicaPercentage by mass, declared | Stated on the safety data sheet and driving the dust controls at both ends. |
| Heavy metalsMilligrams per kilogram, maximum | Nickel, cobalt and other trace metals against the limit in force at the destination. |
| RadionuclidesBecquerels per kilogram | Screened where the deposit or the port monitor requires it. |
| Chemical registrationDeclared, per destination | Registration of the ore and any derived chemical at the destination. |
| Responsible sourcingDeclared | Origin, chain of custody and the due diligence statement where the destination requires one. |
Delivery, documentation and certification
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Form and packingDeclared | Bulk in the hold, big bags of a stated net weight, or containerised in liners. Concentrate moves wet and the pack has to hold it. |
| Moisture at loadingPercentage by mass, maximum | Determined by oven drying on a loading sample under the concentrate moisture standard. It is deducted to reach dry metric tonnes. |
| Transportable moisture limitPercentage by mass, certified before loading | Metal concentrates are group A cargoes that can liquefy. The flow moisture point and the transportable moisture limit are certified by an approved laboratory and the master will not load above them. |
| Weight basisDry metric tonnes | Wet weight less moisture, on shipped weight or landed weight, with the survey house and the draft survey method named. |
| Sampling and assay protocolDeclared, to the named international standard | Who samples, at which point, how the lot is split and sealed, the exchange of assays, the splitting limit, and the umpire laboratory that settles a difference outside it. |
| Certificate of analysisDocument, per lot | Issued by the named laboratory against the contract specification, referencing the lot and the sampling record. |
| Safety data sheetDocument, to the globally harmonised system format | Classification, dust and handling controls, supplied with every consignment. |
| Regulatory and transboundary complianceDeclared | Chemical registration at the destination, and where the material falls under the transboundary movement regime, the notification and consent in place before shipment. |
| Origin and due diligenceDeclared, with the mine or plant named | Country of origin, the mine or processing plant, and the responsible sourcing statement where the destination requires one. |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | Southern Africa | Origin and destination |
| Kazakhstan | Central Asia | Origin and destination |
| Turkiye | Europe and Anatolia | Origin and destination |
| India | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Russian Federation | Eurasia | Origin and destination |
| Zimbabwe | Southern Africa | Origin and destination |
| Oman | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Pakistan | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Brazil | South America | Origin and destination |
| Madagascar | Southern Africa | Origin and destination |
| Iran | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| China | East Asia | Origin and destination |
| Japan | East Asia | Destination |
| Korea, Republic of | East Asia | Destination |
| Indonesia | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Malaysia | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Viet Nam | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Thailand | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Sri Lanka | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Destination and trading hub |
| Saudi Arabia | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Qatar | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Israel | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Egypt | North Africa | Origin and destination |
| Morocco | North Africa | Origin and destination |
| Algeria | North Africa | Origin and destination |
| Tunisia | North Africa | Origin and destination |
| Nigeria | West Africa | Origin and destination |
| Ghana | West Africa | Origin and destination |
| Senegal | West Africa | Origin and destination |
| Kenya | East Africa | Origin and destination |
| Tanzania, United Republic of | East Africa | Origin and destination |
| Uganda | East Africa | Origin and destination |
| Mozambique | Southern Africa | Origin and destination |
| Namibia | Southern Africa | Origin and destination |
| United States | North America | Origin and destination |
| Canada | North America | Origin and destination |
| Mexico | North America | Origin and destination |
| Peru | South America | Origin and destination |
| Chile | South America | Origin and destination |
| Argentina | South America | Origin and destination |
| Colombia | South America | Origin and destination |
| Bolivia, Plurinational State of | South America | Origin and destination |
| Germany | Western Europe | Destination |
| Netherlands | Northwest Europe | Destination and trading hub |
| Belgium | Northwest Europe | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Northern Europe | Origin and destination |
| France | Western Europe | Origin and destination |
| Italy | Southern Europe | Origin and destination |
| Spain | Southern Europe | Origin and destination |
| Portugal | Southern Europe | Origin and destination |
| Poland | Central Europe | Origin and destination |
| Czechia | Central Europe | Origin and destination |
| Bulgaria | Southeast Europe | Origin and destination |
| Romania | Southeast Europe | Origin and destination |
| Ukraine | Eastern Europe | Origin and destination |
| Greece | Southern Europe | Origin and destination |
| Switzerland | Western Europe | Trading and finance |
| Singapore | Southeast Asia | Trading and finance |
| Australia | Oceania | Origin and destination |
| New Zealand | Oceania | Origin and destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Production is when the ore is mined and the concentrate is produced at origin, which follows the mine plan, the smelter maintenance calendar and the weather at the pit rather than a crop season. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. The gap between them is drying, blending, stockpiling and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecThe dominant seaborne source, from the Bushveld complex, shipping ore and concentrate through Richards Bay and Durban and smelting ferrochrome domestically. |
| Kazakhstan | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecHigh ratio ore from the Kempirsai belt, the benchmark for chemical and refractory grades, moving by rail to domestic smelters and to export. |
| Turkey | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest Mar to Nov, arrival May to JanPodiform lump and concentrate from the Anatolian ophiolite belts, with the higher altitude operations limited by winter, exporting through Mediterranean ports. | |
| India | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Oct to May, arrival Nov to JunOdisha production feeding domestic ferrochrome capacity, with mining and haulage weighted to the dry months. | |||
| Finland | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecIntegrated mine to ferrochrome and stainless production in the north, supplying the European market. |
| Zimbabwe | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Oct, arrival Jun to DecGreat Dyke lump and fines, moving out through South African and Mozambican ports, weighted to the dry season. | |||
| Oman | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Oct to Apr, arrival Nov to MayOphiolite chromite exported through Gulf ports, with the working window avoiding the summer heat. | ||||
| Pakistan | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Mar to Oct, arrival May to DecBalochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lump ore, exported through Karachi, with the mining season limited by winter access. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including carry, forward positions and tonnage already sitting in a destination warehouse, smelter stockyard or bonded terminal.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for chromite. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading2610.00 Chromium ores and concentrates
- Packing1 t big bags in a container, or bulk in lined containers. Sealed and sampled at load with retained samples held by both sides.
- Container loading20ft: 26 t to 28 t. Weight limited. Transportable moisture limit certificate required before the box moves.
- Contract and arbitrationSale on dry metric tonne unit against an assay exchange with an umpire laboratory clause. LME, Fastmarkets or Argus assessments as the price reference. Arbitration under ICC or LME rules.
- Destination limitsIMSBC Code declaration and transportable moisture limit certification, EU REACH, OECD due diligence guidance for minerals from conflict affected and high risk areas and, where applicable, the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation 2017/821. Basel controls apply where the material is classified as waste, and several origins licence exports.
Common questions
What grades of chromite does SIP Global trade?
We quote 50 published grades of chromite, including Product form - Declared, as lump ore, friable or fine concentrate, chemical grade, refractory grade, or foundry sand, Chromic oxide - Percentage by mass, on a dry basis, Chromium to iron ratio - Ratio, by mass, Iron as ferrous and ferric oxide - Percentage by mass, Silica - Percentage by mass, maximum and Alumina - Percentage by mass. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is chromite graded?
A chromite contract turns on the chromic oxide assay, on the chromium to iron ratio that decides what the smelter can make from it, and on the physical form, because lump, friable, chemical and foundry grades are separate products sold to separate industries. Grading runs on 6 systems: Chemical assay, Physical properties, Particle size and sizing, Payable terms, charges and deductions, Contaminants and regulated substances and Delivery, documentation and certification.
Where does SIP Global trade chromite?
We trade chromite in South Africa, Kazakhstan, Turkiye, India, Russian Federation, Zimbabwe, Oman and Pakistan and 53 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is chromite harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are South Africa: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; Kazakhstan: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; Turkey: harvest mar to nov, arrival may to jan; India: harvest oct to may, arrival nov to jun; Finland: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
What is the HS code for chromite?
Chromite is normally classified under HS 2610.00 (chromium ores and concentrates). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for chromite?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 1 listed chromite market is published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- ISOInternational Organization for Standardization
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.