Chromium
Primarily used in stainless steel production, providing corrosion and heat resistance. Also used in specialty alloys, chrome plating, and refractories.
Where Chromium sits among tracked minerals
Share of global output from the #1 producing country, across all 20 minerals PlainCountries tracks
40.9% 12th of 20 higher than 8 of 20 tracked minerals
Top-producer share of global output, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more tracked minerals. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024 · 2023 data year
Global Production Overview
Production by Country (2023)
| Rank | Country | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 40.9% |
| 2 | Turkiye | 25.0% |
| 3 | Kazakhstan | 13.2% |
| 4 | India | 9.1% |
| 5 | Russia | 4.5% |
| 6 | Zimbabwe | 1.4% |
| 7 | Brazil | 0.9% |
Click a country name to view its full profile. Production share percentages are calculated from USGS estimated global production.
Nearby Industrial Minerals by leader share
Next read: Iron Ore · All minerals
Where Chromium sits on supply concentration
Chromium is mid-pack on supply concentration here, per the figures above. Chromium is an industrial-mineral row: buyers in import-dependent countries still watch supplier concentration even when the commodity rarely headlines. Primarily used in stainless steel production, providing corrosion and heat resistance. Also used in specialty alloys, chrome plating, and refractories. 2023 global mine production ≈ 44.0 Mt.
The import-reliance figure above is lower than many peers on this desk, so domestic mine or secondary supply still matters alongside the foreign production table. Top-five share is 93% (South Africa, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, India, Russia). Mid-concentration minerals are where #2/#3 shares still matter for scenario work.
Closest same-category neighbour by leader share: Iron Ore. Figures are USGS estimates for 2023 from the 2024 Mineral Commodity Summaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country produces the most Chromium?
South Africa is the world's leading producer of Chromium, accounting for approximately 41% of global mine production in 2023.
How is Chromium used?
Primarily used in stainless steel production, providing corrosion and heat resistance. Also used in specialty alloys, chrome plating, and refractories.
What is global Chromium production?
Global mine production of Chromium was approximately 44.0 Mt in 2023, measured in thousand metric tons (Cr content).
How reliant is the US on imported Chromium?
The United States imports approximately 71% of its apparent Chromium consumption, making it a strategically significant commodity for US supply chain security.
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024 (U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center). Source: USGS National Minerals Information Center, data year 2023. Values are USGS estimates and may include revisions. US import reliance data from USGS.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.