[SMM Chromium Flash] Zimbabwe's Q1 Chrome Output Falls 61% as Alluvial Deposits Run Dry

In late May, driven by news stimulus and expectations for future demand, tantalum prices once rallied sharply, with tantalum ore prices surging to 240–245 US dollars per ton-unit.

[SMM Tantalum Market Analysis: Tantalum Prices Stop Falling and Stabilize: Off-Season Ends, Can the Next Round of Market Movement Be Launched?] At the end of May, driven by news factors and supported by future demand expectations, tantalum prices shot up, with tantalum ore prices soaring to $240-245/mtu. However, the positive news failed to materialize, market panic sentiment intensified, and tantalum prices turned to grind lower, entering a prolonged period of consolidation at lows. As the traditional off-season of July and August comes to an end, the market is stirring at the bottom, and tantalum prices are expected to usher in a new operating cycle.

Global chrome ore departures from major export ports totaled 599,300 mt in the week ended August 21, up 33.62% week-on-week, according to SMM's latest data. The rebound follows the prior week's weather-affected decline, with volumes recovering sharply as loading conditions appear to have normalized across the region's key export corridors. Maputo drove the bulk of the recovery, with departures jumping to 515,200 mt from 333,200 mt, a 54.62% increase that lifted the port's share of total departures to roughly 86%. The sharp rebound is consistent with a catch-up in loadings following the prior week's freezing temperatures, heavy rains, and strong winds, and reaffirms Maputo's position as the dominant corridor for regional chrome ore exports. Mersin also posted a strong gain, rising to 50,600 mt from 33,100 mt, though it remains a comparatively minor contributor to overall volumes. Richards Bay moved in the opposite direction, falling further to 33,500 mt from 82,200 mt, a 59.24% decline that marks a second consecutive weekly drop. The continued weakness suggests the port has yet to see the same recovery in loading activity observed at Maputo, though SMM has not confirmed whether this reflects ongoing weather disruption, vessel scheduling, or other port-side constraints. Beira again recorded no chrome ore departures, remaining inactive in the current shipping cycle. Overall, the week's data points to a broad-based recovery in seaborne chrome ore flows from Southern Africa, led by a strong rebound at Maputo, even as Richards Bay's diverging trend warrants continued monitoring in the coming weeks.