Malawi Sets Six-Month Development Milestones for Kanyika

Global chrome ore departures totaled 660,600 mt in the week ended September 25, up 5.71% week-on-week. This is a second consecutive weekly increase and the highest volume since the week ended September 4. The composition of the flows shifted markedly, however, as gains at Richards Bay and Mersin more than offset a steep pullback at Maputo. Maputo departures fell to 340,200 mt from 555,600 mt, a 38.77% decline that marks the port's lowest weekly volume since the week ended August 28. Its share of total departures narrowed to roughly 51.5% from about 89% a week earlier, ending a run of Maputo-dominated flows and pointing to a more evenly distributed export mix. Richards Bay filled the gap, returning to active shipping after two weeks of zero departures with 227,800 mt, its highest weekly volume since at least the week ended August 7 and equivalent to about 34% of total departures. Mersin also rose 22.22% to 84,700 mt from 69,300 mt, its highest weekly volume over the same period. Beira again recorded no chrome ore departures, remaining inactive for a third consecutive week. The week's data shows the resilience of overall seaborne chrome ore flows from Southern Africa despite a sharp Maputo slowdown, with Richards Bay's rebound reducing the region's reliance on a single corridor. Given the intermittent loading pattern at Richards Bay in recent weeks, whether the port sustains this level of activity will be a key factor for regional shipment volumes ahead.

Sivers Semiconductors announced a $30 million expansion of its indium phosphide (InP) manufacturing facility in Glasgow. Upon completion, the site is expected to support annual production of over 100 million CW DFB lasers. Work will begin in H2 2026, with operations targeted for Q4 2027. Sivers linked the investment to anticipated AI datacenter and optical-networking customer ramps and expects InP lasers and semiconductor optical amplifiers to play a growing role in energy-efficient optical connectivity. SMM views the expansion as direct medium-term support for high-purity indium demand. However, current output, utilization and indium intensity were not disclosed.

As of September 24, 2026, China's total chrome ore inventory at ports fell to 5.037 million mt, down 144,400 mt (-2.79%) from September 18, the second straight weekly decline. Stocks are now down 280,700 mt (-5.28%) from the September 11 peak, essentially erasing the two-week build. Tianjin Port drove the draw, falling 136,200 mt (-2.99%) to 4.4258 million mt, or 87.9% of the national total. Qinzhou plus Fangchenggang slipped 8,200 mt (-2.00%) to 401,100 mt, while all other ports were unchanged. The decline came despite weak demand, as Tsingshan and other major mills cut October ferrochrome tender prices by RMB 200 per 50mt unit and held back restocking. Traders trimmed offers to clear cargoes ahead of the holidays, with South African 40-42% fines at Tianjin at 52.5-53 yuan/mtu, while limited ferrochrome output cuts kept smelters drawing on port stocks. Softer mid-to-late August departures, at 448,500 mt and 376,000 mt in the weeks ended August 14 and 28, also likely thinned arrivals, though the September rebound in loadings points to a recovery ahead.