chromium

Domestic production and use

  1. In 2003, United States inspired 12% of world chromite ore production in various forms of imported materials, such as chromite ore, chromium chemicals, chromium ferroalloys, and chromium metal.
  2. Imported chromite was consumed by one chemical firm to make chromium chemicals. Consumption of chromium ferroalloys and metal was predominantly for the production of stainless and heat-resisting steel and super alloys, respectively. The value of chromium material consumption was about $188 million.

Recycling

In 2003, chromium controlled in purchased stainless steel scrap accounted for 26% of apparent consumption.

Substitutes

Chromium has no alternate in stainless steel, the largest end use, or in superalloys, the major strategic end use. Chromium-containing scrap can substitute for ferrochromium in metallurgical uses

World Resources

chromium

  1. World resources go beyond 12 billion tons of shipping-grade chromite, enough to meet possible demand for centuries.
  2. About 95% of chromium resources is geographically concentrated in southern Africa. Reserves and reserve base are geographically resolute in Kazakhstan and southern Africa. The largest U.S. chromium resource is in the Stillwater Complex in Montana.