What happened to South Africa's ferro-alloy exports?

Ferroalloys, a key component of steelmaking, have long been a cornerstone of the South African mining sector, a global powerhouse for mineral resources. South Africa's ferro-alloys exports cover a wide range of products, including ferrochrome, ferromanganese and ferrosilicon. Benefiting from its abundant mineral reserves, South Africa has an important position in supplying ferro-alloy to international markets, meeting the demands of industries worldwide.

As key components in the production of steel and other alloys, ferroalloys have emerged as the cornerstone of South Africa's mineral export portfolio, not only contributing significantly to the country's export earnings, but also promoting job creation, infrastructure development and economic diversification across regions.

Furthermore, South Africa's ferroalloy industry acts as a catalyst for socioeconomic development, empowering local communities and promoting skills development and entrepreneurial opportunities in mining regions.

Looking ahead, market representatives remain optimistic about the growth trajectory of the South African ferroalloys sector and are poised to consolidate its position as a leading supplier of ferroalloys and further strengthen its status as a major player in the global metals market. The resurgence of global trade and South Africa's natural mineral wealth puts the country in a favorable position to capitalize on emerging opportunities and strengthen its position as a major player in the global metals market.

According to SteelRadar's data from the United Comtrade Database, South Africa's ferroalloy exports in 2023 were 4,312 million tons, up by 2.12% from 2022. Total exports in 2022 were 4.223 million tons.

The country's ferroalloy exports in January 2023 were 476,405 tons, up by 27.16% compared to the same month of the previous year. Exports in March amounted to 448,870 tons, up by 58.06% compared to the same month of the previous year. This was the month with the highest exports in 2023. August was the month with the biggest drop in exports with 344,437 tons, down by 55.21% compared to the same month of the previous year. In December, ferroalloy exports increased by 32.19% y-o-y to 355,091 thousand tons.

The country's main ferroalloy exporters were China (1,654,687 tons), Mozambique (1,015,867 tons), Belgium (251,947 tons), Indonesia (232,602 tons) and the US (220,048 tons).