For this kind of ore needed by steel, my country’s foreign dependence is close to 100%
In 2021, my country will import a total of 14.924 million tons of chrome ore, a year-on-year increase of 4.2%. my country’s chrome ore import volume has ranked first in the world for many consecutive years. In general, my country’s chrome ore resources are lacking and the conditions for resource development are generally poor, and the external dependence is close to 100%; the sources of imports are very concentrated, and the stability of the supply chain is low.
Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Natural Resources jointly issued the “14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of Raw Materials Industry”, which clearly proposed to improve resource security capabilities and expand diversified resource supply channels. As an indispensable basic raw material for the iron and steel industry, chrome ore is mainly used for the production of high-carbon ferrochromium and for the production of various special steels with high strength, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, high temperature resistance and oxidation resistance. It is one of the strategic minerals in my country. one.
Therefore, industry insiders suggest that my country needs to actively take countermeasures to gradually build a stable and controllable chrome ore resource supply system that combines imported ore and equity ore to ensure the safety of resource supply.
01 Distribution and supply of chromium ore resources
As of the end of 2020, the world’s proven reserves of chromium ore were about 570 million tons. Countries rich in chrome ore resources mainly include Kazakhstan, South Africa, India, Turkey and Finland, among which the total chrome ore resources of Kazakhstan, South Africa and India exceed 90% of the world total.
In 2020, the global chrome ore production is about 40 million tons, of which South Africa will produce 16 million tons, accounting for about 40%, Kazakhstan 6.7 million tons, accounting for about 16.8%, and Turkey 6.3 million tons, accounting for about 15.8% , India 4 million tons, accounting for about 10%, Finland 2.4 million tons, accounting for about 6%.
As of the end of 2020, my country’s chrome ore resource reserves are about 2.7697 million tons, which is extremely short, mainly distributed in western regions such as Tibet, Gansu and Xinjiang. The development environment is poor, the transportation is inconvenient, and the resource development conditions are generally poor. In 2021, the national chrome ore production will be about 100,000 tons. The largest chrome ore production enterprise in China is Tibet Mining Development Co., Ltd., which mainly mines the Lobusa chrome ore in Tibet. The output of raw chrome ore in 2020 is 67,000 tons.
The rapid development of the iron and steel industry has prompted a sharp increase in my country’s demand for chrome ore, and domestic chrome ore resources are difficult to meet the demand. my country’s chrome ore import volume has ranked first in the world for many consecutive years. In 2020, my country imported 14.321 million tons of chrome ore and concentrates from 24 countries or regions, a year-on-year decrease of 9.9%; the annual import value of chrome ore was 2.04 billion US dollars, and the average price was about 142.7 US dollars / ton; , South Africa has an absolute advantage, my country’s chrome ore imports from South Africa accounted for 81.9% of the total imports. In 2021, my country imported a total of 14.924 million tons of chrome ore, a year-on-year increase of 4.2%; the annual import value of chrome ore was 2.602 billion US dollars, and the average price was about 174.4 US dollars / ton; among import sources, South Africa still has an absolute advantage, and my country’s chrome ore Imports from South Africa accounted for 80.4% of total imports.
02 Problems and Development Suggestions of my country’s Chromium Ore Supply System
By analyzing the distribution and supply of chrome ore resources, we can see that there are three problems in the supply system of chrome ore resources in my country.
First, the domestic chrome ore resources are extremely scarce. The identified resources are small and the reserves are constantly decreasing, and they are mainly located in remote areas, which are difficult to utilize and high transportation costs.
Second, subject to domestic resource conditions, chrome ore basically relies on imports, and the external dependence is close to 100%, and it lacks the initiative.
Third, the source of imports is highly concentrated, mainly relying on South Africa, accounting for more than 80% for a long time. Under the current situation of increasingly complex international environment, intensified competition for mineral resources, and still severe epidemic situation, chrome ore production and shipping are facing risks, and the chrome ore supply chain is fragile.
Based on the problems and actual situation of my country’s chrome ore resource supply system, industry insiders put forward 3 suggestions.
The first is to promote the layout of overseas chrome ore resources. The state should encourage Chinese-funded enterprises to actively participate in or acquire high-quality chrome mines in South Africa, Zimbabwe and other countries, and further strengthen the control of overseas chrome ore resources.
The second is to promote the diversification of the import market and expand new channels for the supply of chrome ore resources. On the basis of the existing resource import market, my country should vigorously develop new sources of chrome ore resources import, take the road of market diversification, and further diversify the security risk of resource supply.
The third is to establish and improve China’s strategic reserve system for chrome ore resource products as soon as possible. my country should strengthen the reserves of metallurgical grade chrome ore and ferrochromium alloy, and formulate chrome ore supply response plans according to different situations to ensure the safety of the industry.