GACC: China's ferrochrome imports halve in Q1

China's imports of high-carbon ferrochrome more than halved in this year's January-March quarter, falling 50.7% year-on-year to 401,755 tonnes, according to new data released by the General Administration of Customs (GACC).

Responsible for the sharp decline was a dramatic slump in shipments from South Africa, traditionally China's largest supplier of the ferroalloy, the GACC data indicate. Imports from South Africa plunged 82.2% year-on-year to just 74,226 tonnes in the first quarter, as operational challenges and high electricity costs – these have