Chrome ore · South Africa → China · 2002–2026
Tonnes of chrome ore China imported from South Africa each year, with China's total imports from all countries where a figure was found. The 2011 line marks when the climb steepened as China built up its own ferrochrome smelting.
Exports to China surged from 200,000 tonnes in 2002 to 4.7 million tonnes in 2011.
Both figures appear in a 2012 column by Merafe Resources' chief executive. It is one industry source, but the 2013 figure from USGS (6.7 Mt) fits the same trend.
By 2020, exports reached 12.5 million tonnes, 83% of China's total chrome imports.
12.5 Mt and "more than 80%" are Reuters' figures for 2019. For 2020, Chinese customs data show 11.72 Mt from South Africa out of 14.31 Mt, an 82% share.
In 2023 South Africa exported 17.8 Mt globally, with China importing 18.3 Mt (reflecting stock movements or re-exports).
Both numbers are right, but the explanation isn't. 18.3 Mt is China's imports from every country, including Zimbabwe and Turkey. Of that, about 14.9 Mt came from South Africa.
In August 2026, exports to China were 1.67 million tonnes.
SARS data show 1,674,400 t went to China in August 2026, down 6.1% on July and 70.8% of South Africa's chrome ore exports that month. I didn't check the stated reasons (port stocks and smelter margins).
China's rise as the leading ferrochrome producer, buying raw ore instead of South African ferrochrome.
Matches industry reporting: CRU put China's ferrochrome output at about 6.1 Mt against South Africa's 3.6 Mt, and South Africa's own smelters have been cutting output.
| Year | From South Africa | China, all countries | Share | Source |
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Figures are China's customs-recorded chrome ore imports from South Africa unless the source says otherwise. 2002, 2011 and 2019 come from South African export reporting, which can differ slightly from China's customs figures for the same year. No reliable figure was found for 2003–2010, 2012, 2014, 2015 or 2026 annual, so those years are left blank rather than estimated.
2024 is derived from SMM's 2025 growth rate (19.57 Mt, up 14.9%). 2026 shows January–August only. Compiled 27 October 2026.