[SMM Chromium Flash] Chrome Ore Outshines Broader SA Mining Sector on Sales Value in June, Stats SA Shows

Published: Aug 28, 2026 22:40

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South Africa's mining production fell 4% year-on-year in June 2026, according to Statistics South Africa, with platinum group metals (PGMs) the largest drag, down 8.4% YoY and subtracting 2.4 percentage points from the headline figure. Coal production declined 6.6% (-1.7pp) and iron-ore output fell 10.2% (-1.5pp). On a seasonally adjusted basis, production edged up 0.3% month-on-month in June, following a 5.2% drop in May and a 3% gain in April, leaving second-quarter production down 2.7% quarter-on-quarter.

Against that backdrop, chromium ore stood out on the sales side of the report. Mineral sales at current prices rose 27.2% YoY in June, and chromium ore was the third-largest positive contributor, with sales value up 49% YoY, adding 3.7 percentage points to the headline gain. Only gold (+125.7% YoY, contributing 17.1pp) and PGMs (+27% YoY, contributing 7.3pp) contributed more. Iron-ore sales value fell 16.1% YoY (-1.7pp) and other non-metallic minerals dropped 35.5% (-1.3pp), the only negative contributors in the sales breakdown.

The divergence is worth noting precisely: Stats SA's report does not break out chromium ore within its production-volume figures for June, meaning the sector's standout performance this month is a sales-value story rather than a confirmed rise in physical output. Combined with firmer chrome ore and ferrochrome pricing through H1 2026, the data points to a chrome segment that continues to generate disproportionate revenue for South Africa's mining sector even as broader production volumes soften, reinforcing chrome's role as a relative bright spot within an otherwise contracting mining base.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

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