Chromium
World mine production and reserves, 2024–2025
Share of world mine production (chromite, gross weight), 2025 · world total 51 million metric tons
- South Africa 45%
- Turkey 18%
- Kazakhstan 14%
- India 5.9%
- Brazil 3.9%
- Zimbabwe 3.9%
- Finland 3.7%
- Other countries 6.1%
South Africa accounted for 45% of world mine production of chromium in 2025 (23 million metric tons of 51 million metric tons). Among the main producers, Brazil changed most: +43% on 2024. Net imports covered 79% of U.S. chromium consumption in 2025. South Africa supplied 96% of U.S. imports of chromium in 2021–24, more than any other country.
Producer log
8 countries listed separately
| Country | Mine production (chromite, gross weight) 2024 | Mine production (chromite, gross weight) 2025 | Share of world 2025 | Change on 2024 | Reserves (shipping-grade chromite ore) | Reserves (Cr2O3 content) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 22,900 | 23,000 | 45% | +0.4% | 350,000 | 110,000 |
| Turkey | 9,300 | 9,000 | 18% | −3.2% | 27,000 | 5,700 |
| Kazakhstan | 6,100 | 7,000 | 14% | +15% | 230,000 | 100,000 |
| India | 3,370 | 3,000 | 5.9% | −11% | 79,000 | 27,000 |
| Brazil | 1,400 | 2,000 | 3.9% | +43% | 3,900 | 1,000 |
| Zimbabwe | 1,600 | 2,000 | 3.9% | +25% | 140,000 | 78,000 |
| Finland | 1,940 | 1,900 | 3.7% | −2.1% | 63,000 | 16,000 |
| United States | 0 | 0 | 8,500 | 630 | ||
| Other countries | 3,000 | 3,000 | 5.9% | not available | not available | |
| World total | 49,600 | 51,000 | 100% | +2.8% | more than 1,200,000 | more than 540,000 |
United States
supply, trade and import sources
79%
Net import reliance in 2025, as a percentage of apparent consumption.
202176
202277
202368
202477
202579
Import sources, 2021–24
- South Africa 96%
- Turkey 3%
- Other countries 1%
Uses named for it in the 2025 critical minerals list: stainless steel and metallurgy.
| Item | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production: Mine | — | — | — | — | — |
| Production: Secondary | 147 | 138 | 126 | 103 | 100 |
| Imports for consumption | 571 | 610 | 451 | 492 | 520 |
| Exports | 114 | 162 | 178 | 148 | 140 |
| Shipments from Government stockpile | 7 | 5 | NA | NA | NA |
| Consumption (includes recycling): Reported | 389 | 328 | 365 | 360 | 360 |
| Consumption (includes recycling): Apparent | 612 | 591 | 399 | 442 | 480 |
| Stocks, consumer, yearend | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Chromium chapter (PDF page 74). How to read these figures.