Chromium Market Update (October 2, 2012)

On October 1st, it was announced that strikes at the Samancor Western Chrome mine in Rustenberg, SA ended, as wage negotiations were finalized.

Strikes were an ongoing problem September in South Africa as labor disputes in the precious metals sector, resulted in production cuts of UG2 chrome ore, a by-product of platinum. Metal-Pages reported that striking has caused a decline of about 150,000-250,000 tonnes, affecting prices and raising concerns of further supply concerns.

Metal Bulletin reported that free market prices for chromium were down slightly at the end of September, trading hands at $11,000-13,000 per metric ton, a $50 change in price.

Chinese unwrought chromium exports from January to August 2012 were down 28.65% year-on-year to 2,120 metric tons, according to data compiled for Metal-Pages.