Zimbabwe’s ferrochrome sector has demonstrated significant production resilience and market agility, with export volumes surging 21% to 328,442 metric tonnes in the first nine months of 2025, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The robust growth, driven by steady demand from key Asian markets, generated US$272.8 million in revenue, reinforcing the commodity’s vital role in the nation’s diversified mineral export strategy.
The latest figures from the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) confirm a strong operational performance for the High Carbon Ferrochrome (HCFC) sector. Compared to the 271,150 metric tonnes exported in the same period in 2024, the 21% increase to 328,442 metric tonnes signifies a successful ramp-up in production and a reliable flow of orders from international buyers.
In value terms, earnings saw a more modest but solid increase of 8%, rising from US$251.6 million in 2024 to US$272.8 million in 2025. This divergence between volume growth (21%) and value growth (8%) points to the complex dynamics of the global commodities market. While the sector successfully produced and sold more material, the unit price achieved was likely lower than the previous year’s peak, a trend observed across several commodities.
This performance aligns with the broader price context provided by MMCZ General Manager, Dr. Nomsa Moyo, who earlier highlighted a 24% increase in ferrochrome prices and a 22.6% increase in chrome ore as key drivers of the sector’s positive outlook. The ability to increase export volumes amid these price fluctuations underscores the sector’s competitiveness and the strong, inelastic demand for its product, particularly in industrialising Asian economies.
The strategic importance of ferrochrome extends beyond direct revenue. As a value-added product derived from chrome ore, its production represents a crucial step in Zimbabwe’s broader ambition to move up the mineral beneficiation ladder. By exporting processed ferrochrome rather than just raw chrome ore, the nation captures more value, creates more jobs, and strengthens its industrial base. This performance, achieved despite the well-documented “challenge of our infrastructure to move with much volume,” as noted by Dr. Moyo, is a testament to the sector’s determination.
Zimbabwe’s ferrochrome story in 2025 is one of volume-driven growth and strategic market consolidation. The 21% surge in exports to 328,442 tonnes proves the sector’s capacity to meet international demand. While the more modest 8% rise in value highlights the ongoing navigation of global price volatility, the US$272.8 million in earnings remains a critical contribution to the national treasury. As the sector continues to leverage steady Asian demand and invest in operational efficiency, ferrochrome is firmly positioned as a dependable pillar supporting Zimbabwe’s US$3.2 billion mineral export target.
