Performance Divergence Among Listed Firms: Half See Revenue Decline, Led by Zhenhua New Materials

South Africa's high-carbon ferrochrome exports fell to 97,656 mt in July 2026, down 20.8% month-on-month from June's 123,310 mt, a sharper contraction than June's flat performance against May. China, the top destination, pulled back 27.2% to 28,337 mt, a move that lines up with Merafe Resources' August 11 half-year results flagging a potential H2 2026 ferrochrome glut driven by rising Chinese domestic output and weak stainless steel demand. Japan bucked the trend, rising 31.8% to 23,716 mt to overtake Italy and South Korea as the second-largest destination, with the United States also up 29.0% to 11,415 mt. The broader decline reflects supply constraints as much as demand: the Wonderkop and Boshoek smelters only began restarting in late June following the finalized 62c/kWh Eskom tariff deal, leaving July as effectively the first month any incremental output could reach the export market.

【SMM Magnesium Flash】Recently, Guangdong Hongtu Technology Co., Ltd. announced its intention to invest 274 million yuan to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary, Guangdong Hongmei New Material Technology Co., Ltd., in Gaoyao District, Zhaoqing City, to conduct magnesium alloy die-casting business. The new company will focus on the development of new magnesium alloy materials, research and development of molding technology, and product manufacturing, forming synergies and complementarities with the company's existing product system. The aim is to improve the product structure and cultivate new profit growth points in the field of precision molding. With the gradual implementation of magnesium alloy die-casting production capacity, Guangdong Hongtu is expected to accelerate the expansion of magnesium alloy applications in areas such as lightweighting of automobiles.

South Africa's chrome ore exports rose to approximately 2.65 million tonnes in July 2026, up 10.3% month-on-month from June's 2.40 million tonnes and the highest monthly total recorded so far this year, surpassing April's previous high. China remained the dominant destination at 1.784 million tonnes, though its share of total exports eased slightly from 67.6% to 67.3% as growth broadened across smaller buyers. The clearest shift came among secondary destinations: Indonesia's imports nearly doubled month-on-month to 150,000 tonnes, overtaking the UAE, whose volumes fell 38.3% to 116,100 tonnes. Indonesia's gain tracks its expanding domestic ferrochrome and stainless steel capacity, while the UAE's decline is consistent with its role as a re-export trading hub rather than an end-use market. South Africa's proposed ITAC export-permit system and export tax remain unimplemented as of July.