The industry that consumes the most chromite sand is the metallurgical industry, with its consumption accounting for over 90% of the global total chromite consumption. The specific application and consumption logic are as follows:
- Core application in ferrochrome production: Chromite sand is the primary raw material for manufacturing ferrochrome alloy. During the smelting process, chromite sand undergoes high-temperature reactions to form ferrochrome, which is an indispensable alloy additive in stainless steel production. Chromium in ferrochrome enables stainless steel to form a dense passivation film on the surface, thereby endowing it with excellent corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance, and wear resistance—key properties that define stainless steel.
- Dominant demand driven by stainless steel: The demand for chromite sand in the metallurgical industry is mainly pulled by the stainless steel sector. It is estimated that nearly 75%-90% of chromite consumption worldwide is associated with stainless steel manufacturing. Stainless steel is widely used in construction, automotive manufacturing, consumer goods production, and many other fields. For example, it is used to make building facades, automotive body parts, and kitchen utensils. The continuous expansion of these downstream markets has directly led to the sustained growth of chromite sand consumption in the metallurgical industry.
In addition to the metallurgical industry, chromite sand is also used in refractory and foundry industries due to its high heat resistance and low thermal expansion characteristics. For instance, it can be made into chrome bricks for high-temperature industrial furnaces or used as molding sand for casting special steels. It also has applications in the chemical industry for producing chromium compounds. However, the consumption in these industries is far less than that in the metallurgical industry, accounting for only a single-digit percentage of the total global consumption.