China imported 541,000 tonnes of chrome ore concentrate in March 2008, generally the same as that in March 2007 and up by 3.6% MoM. Total chrome ore imports in the January to March 2008 quarter amounted to 1.66 million tonnes up by 15.7% YoY.
Despite jumping imports, domestic chrome ore price still climbed. This implies tight supply and rising price in international market as well as swelling demand and deteriorating scant supply in China.
Statistics from customs show South Africa provided 196,500 tonnes in March 2008, acting as the largest provider. Turkey and Oman followed by 79,000 tonnes and 70,000 tonnes respectively. As prices for traditional resources, mainly from India, Turkey, Iran and Pakistan, perched at a high level, many domestic producers turned to resources from Oman despite the low grades.
Chrome ore imports from different countries in March 2008
| Country | Mar'08 | Share | J-M'08 | Share |
| Total | 0.541 | 1.661 | ||
| South Africa | 0.197 | 36.3% | 0.546 | 32.9% |
| Turkey | 0.080 | 14.7% | 0.265 | 15.9% |
| Oman | 0.074 | 13.6% | 0.166 | 10.0% |
| India | 0.070 | 12.9% | 0.235 | 14.1% |
| Philippines | 0.047 | 8.6% | 0.080 | 4.8% |
| Pakistan | 0.025 | 4.6% | 0.088 | 5.3% |
| Vietnam | 0.009 | 1.6% | 0.026 | 1.5% |
| Zimbabwe | 0.009 | 1.6% | 0.012 | 0.7% |
| Albania | 0.008 | 1.5% | 0.046 | 2.7% |
| Brazil | 0.008 | 1.4% | 0.016 | 0.9% |
| Iran | 0.005 | 0.9% | 0.092 | 5.5% |
| Kazakhstan | 0.005 | 0.9% | 0.021 | 1.2% |
| United Arab Emirates | 0.003 | 0.5% | 0.017 | 1.0% |
| Indonesia | 0.001 | 0.1% | 0.002 | 0.1% |
| Sudan | 0.001 | 0.1% | 0.010 | 0.6% |
| Mozambique | 0.000 | 0.0% | 0.000 | 0.0% |
| Japan | 0.000 | 0.0% | 0.000 | 0.0% |
| Austria | 0.000 | 0.0% | 0.032 | 1.9% |
| Madagascar | 0.000 | 0.0% | 0.005 | 0.3% |
| Armenia | 0.000 | 0.0% | 0.001 | 0.0% |
In million tonnes
(Sourced from MySteel.net)