US chrome consumption down in first quarter

Reported US consumption of chrome by content declined by 13pc in the first quarter from a year earlier amid lower high-carbon ferro-chrome volumes.

The US consumed 56,400 metric tons (t) of chrome by content in the first quarter, down from 64,900t a year earlier, according to the US Geological Survey.

US output of stainless steel, which has minimum 10pc chrome content, totaled 718,000t in the first three months, down from 721,000t the prior year period, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute.

Aggregate imports for consumption of all ferro-chrome grades rose by 5pc to 79,900t by content in the first quarter. High-carbon ferro-chrome imports increased to 67,700t from 66,500t in the prior year. Meanwhile, low-carbon ferro-chrome imports nearly doubled to 12,200t by content in the quarter.

Imports of high-carbon alloy from India rose to 6,470t by content, up from 405t the prior year. The US also imported 3,600t by content of Albanian alloy in the first quarter, an increase from 297t a year earlier. Greater Indian and Albanian volumes more than offset a 12pc fall in South African volumes to 40,600t.

Consumption of chrome for stainless steel production decreased by 18pc to 84,800t in the first quarter. Demand for superalloy and unspecified steel production was little changed at 1,310t and 8,140t, respectively.

Consumer stocks of chrome metal and alloys shrank by 12pc to 5,290t at the end of March from a year earlier.

US exports of chrome metal decreased by 38pc to 123t in the first quarter. Chrome ore exports fell by 87pc to 1,190t over the same period.