South Africa’s chrome export flows are being reshaped by persistent bottlenecks, particularly on the Transnet rail network and at coastal terminals.

Historically, Durban and Richards Bay handled the bulk of chrome exports.

But as rail performance deteriorated - due to infrastructure failures, security issues, and inefficiencies - chrome exporters increasingly turned to Maputo as an alternative outlet, with shorter routes to port from the eastern Bushveld.

Furthermore, the loss of over 3.5Mt of ferrochrome production with South Africa will add increasing pressure to the export of chromium concentrates to ferroalloy production outside of South Africa.

China and Europe, previously reliant on South African ferrochrome supplementing domestic production, will need to seek alternative sources.