from last year:
http://www.miningweekly.com/print-version/south-africas-chrome-industry-well-placed-to-grow-and-prosper-2016-10-21
- "ICDA market research analyst Loïc Racon notes that South Africa holds about 72% of the world’s chromite resources. “Its chromite reserves are estimated at around 175-million tonnes to 200-million tonnes,” he notes, adding that, as a result, the country is the world’s largest chrome ore producer, accounting for about 56% of the global chrome ore and concentrate production in 2015."
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Now fast forward to today.....
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-13/years-of-gridlock-face-south-africa-as-new-rules-paralyze-mining
“A number of institutional investors pulled out of the bond process saying the risks in South Africa were just too high and it’s becoming uninvestable.”
Companies and investors say the new rules and uncertainty will starve the industry of much-needed capital, shortening mine lives, reducing profits and adding to existing challenges of declining reserves and increasing costs"
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How does that make you feel about the stability of the chrome price- availability when South Africa represents over half of the word chrome production?
Does this not spell out an urgency for a domesic source of chrome in North America?
Every day I see little shoots of news. Here is a recent example.
https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2017/06/secretary-ross-celebrates-380-million-samsung-investment-south-carolina
As an example, I love the new fridge.
I would love to have it in the new BLACK stainless steel.
https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-introduces-an-entirely-new-category-in-refrigeration-as-part-of-kitchen-appliance-lineup-at-2016-ces
With the upcoming record in infrastucture proposed in USA, Canada, Europe, China etc...there will be a big demand for iron ore, chrome, met coal etc..
Along with other demands such as the defense, auto, and ..even this appliance industry.
A stable North American supply of all ingredients is a must.
