South African company Samancor Chrome announced on March 31 that, due to a 21-day nationwide coronavirus lockdown, it has issued a force majeure notice to its customers. The company, capable of around 1 million mt of annual ferrochrome production, is the second largest ferrochrome producer globally.
South Africa’s precautions are depriving the global market of a significant part of its chrome ore and ferrochrome supply. As SteelOrbis reported previously, Glencore has also transitioned all its ferroalloys operations in South Africa to maintenance and care.