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The government’s strategic push to transform Zimbabwe into a regional ferrochrome hub is yielding concrete results, with the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) reporting a striking divergence in the performance of the chrome sector for the 2025 financial year. With sales of high-value ferro-alloys surging ahead while exports of raw chrome ore stagnated, the data underscores a pivotal shift as the nation successfully moves up the value chain to capture more revenue from its mineral wealth, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
For the 2025 financial year, MMCZ sold 433,293 metric tonnes of ferro-alloys, including ferrochrome and ferrosilicon, valued at US$372 million. This represents a substantial 19% increase in volume and an 11% increase in value from the previous year. In contrast, the trade in raw chrome ore concentrates told a different story. MMCZ sold 886,752 metric tonnes of concentrates, generating US$150 million. While export volume increased marginally by less than 1%, the revenue generated fell by 12% year-on-year due to lower global prices.
This impressive growth in ferro-alloy sales is the direct outcome of a deliberate and accelerating government policy. Strategic interventions include linking new chrome mining rights to commitments for building or expanding local smelting capacity, a move designed to incentivise processing plants over mere mining. Furthermore, authorities are actively consulting on implementing a total ban on the export of raw chrome ore, aiming to close policy loopholes and ensure all ore is beneficiated domestically. This framework is already attracting scale, with projects like the Palm River initiative planned to reach a massive capacity of 1 million tonnes of ferrochrome per year.
The strategy’s timing is advantageous, coinciding with a significant realignment in the global ferrochrome market. South Africa, the traditional powerhouse, faces severe production cuts due to high electricity costs and market pressures, with 2025 output potentially halving from 2024 levels. This has created a substantial supply gap, presenting Zimbabwe with a critical window to position itself as a primary alternative source of ferrochrome for key consumers in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Despite the positive trajectory, the sector must navigate persistent challenges to capitalise on this opportunity fully. Unstable and costly electricity supply remains a major constraint for energy-intensive smelting operations. Additionally, infrastructure and logistical bottlenecks can hamper the efficient movement of volumes to ports.
The data confirms Zimbabwe’s chrome strategy is on the right track. By prioritising ferrochrome production, the nation not only earns more from its vast chrome reserves but also creates more jobs, stimulates industrial development, and reduces vulnerability to volatile raw ore prices. With global demand steady and a major competitor retreating, Zimbabwe’s focused policy mix could solidify its role as a growing force in the global ferrochrome market.
