News release: April 20, 2026
According to China Customs data, China’s total imports of high-carbon ferrochrome reached 136,600 tons in March 2026, a slight month-on-month increase of 0.76% and a year-on-year drop of 52.56%. Specifically, imports from South Africa stood at 33,600 tons, down 16.91% month on month and 80.66% year on year; imports from Kazakhstan hit 75,600 tons, rising 5.66% month on month and falling 6.06% year on year.
From January to March 2026, China’s cumulative imports of high-carbon ferrochrome totaled 401,800 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 51.94%. Of this total, imports from South Africa amounted to 74,200 tons, plunging 82.21% year on year, while imports from Kazakhstan reached 234,000 tons, down 15.77% year on year.
Eskom, South Africa’s power utility, has officially signed a special preferential electricity tariff policy of 62 cents per kWh with major ferrochrome producers including Glencore-Merafe and Samancor. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) stated that the approval of the temporary electricity tariff policy will be completed by the end of June. Overall, the current production resumption of South African ferrochrome is limited, and its short-term supply inflow will exert little impact on China’s market.
In addition, industrial electricity tariffs have been raised in Zimbabwe. Local ferrochrome plants without self-owned power generation facilities have largely suspended production due to surging costs, leading to a decline in China’s ferrochrome imports from Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, China’s ferrochrome imports from Kazakhstan have remained relatively stable. On the whole, China’s ferrochrome imports are expected to stay at a relatively low and stable level in the short term.
