India, South Africa mulling ban on chrome ore exports to China

India and South Africa, amongst other countries are mulling a ban on chrome ore exports to China, according to Albanian Minerals president and CEO Sahit Muja. China is importing raw chromite ore from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Turkey, Albania and India at very low prices and using it to produce ferrochrome itself.

"The governments in South Africa, India, Zimbabwe had been petitioned by local ferrochrome producers to halt the export of raw chrome ore to China", Muja said.

Albanian Minerals and Bytyci ShPK is a mining and trading company and a main supplier of chrome ore, bauxite, copper, nickel, quartz, magnesium and other minerals.  The company has been in business for 15 years, mining and trading minerals around the world. 

Albanian has rights to mine one of the world's largest bodies of chrome ore and other metals with an estimated 100 million plus tons of minerals.

According to Muja, Zimbabwe has banned the export of chrome ore, while India is mulling a ban as it has huge future domestic demand for chrome ore.

As for South Africa, it may impose export duties and other controls to stop a surge in chrome ore sales to China so local ferrochrome makers can stay competitive, the head of Merafe Resources Ltd (MRF) said.