Oman Chromite Company (OCC) produced 25.9kt of chromite ore in H1 2022, up 177% year-on-year. Profits were up 145% year-on-year, supported by higher ore prices in H1 as well as lower costs, according to the company.

Project Blue data shows that production of chromite in Oman ranged between 500-800ktpy over much of the 2010s. Attention on chromite from Oman has fluctuated as the low-grade ore has struggled to cement a growth position as a feed for charge chrome producers. Chinese ferrochrome smelters have chosen to focus on South African by-product chromite fines, which presents the industry’s biggest risk to reshaping the supply landscape.

OCC has grown its mineral reserve base in ophiolites northeast of Sohar. With logistic challenges in South Africa weighing on the supply of China’s dominant chromite source, opportunities to capture market share are looking tangible. However, the bleak economic outlook until the Chinese New Year will limit this reality and Oman miners will have to show extended life of mine resources to secure a sustainable outlook for its domestic industry.