• China Steel Corporation - China has become the world's largest importer of chrome ore. In 2005, China imported 3.02 million tons, in 2006, 4.32 million tons, and in 2007, China imported 6,090,300 tons of chrome ore. China's imports of chrome ore primarily came from the following countries in 2007 - South Africa at 1,963,900 tons, from Turkey at 1,082,800 tons, from India 984,500 tons, from Oman 337,300 tons, and Pakistan 295,100 tons. Power problems have impacted imports from South Africa and Zimbabwe so far in 2008, as have export duties from India. Nickel ore imports increased from 3.79 million tons of nickel ore in 2006, to 15.5639 million tons in 2007. Analyst warning of South Africa considering raising export duty on chrome ore, and warn if this happens, we could see a second round of price increases.
