This list reveals the top 10 chrome importers based on their percentage of global import purchases (shown within parenthesis). In 2017, world chrome imports totaled US$4.1 billion.
African Importers
Africa imported $22.7 million worth of chrome led by the following countries:
1. South Africa: $21.8 million
2. Egypt: $399,000
3. Nigeria: $215,000
4. Morocco: $107,000
5. Somalia: $53,000
6. Zimbabwe: $49,000
7. Ghana: $46,000
8. Algeria: $21,000
9. Botswana: $19,000
10. Kenya: $15,000
Asian Importers
Asia imported $3.6 billion worth of chrome led by the following countries:
1. China: $3.4 billion
2. Indonesia: $67.8 million
3. Turkey: $52.5 million
4. India: $45.3 million
5. Japan: $21.2 million
6. Taiwan: $5.2 million
7. Malaysia: $2.4 million
8. Vietnam: $1.3 million
9. Thailand: $1.1 million
10. South Korea: $564,000
European Union (EU) Importers
European Union imported $126.7 million worth of chrome led by the following EU members:
1. Germany: $51.7 million
2. Belgium: $15.7 million
3. Austria: $13.7 million
4. France: $12 million
5. Italy: $9.1 million
6. Poland: $6.4 million
7. Spain: $6.2 million
8. Czech Republic: $2.7 million
9. Slovakia: $2.4 million
10. United Kingdom: $2.3 million
Latin American and Caribbean Importers
Latin America (excluding Mexico) and the Caribbean imported $23 million worth of chrome led by the following countries:
1. Argentina: $10 million
2. Brazil: $5.7 million
3. Chile: $2.6 million
4. Peru: $2.2 million
5. Cayman Islands: $1.7 million
6. Colombia: $446,000
7. Venezuela: $202,000
8. Costa Rica: $56,000
9. Ecuador: $49,000
10. Guatemala: $23,000
Middle Eastern Importers
Middle East imported $2 million worth of chrome led by the following countries:
1. Iran: $1.2 million
2. United Arab Emirates: $614,000
3. Israel: $64,000
4. Qatar: $50,000
5. Kuwait: $39,000
6. Iraq: $36,000
7. Syrian Arab Republic: $10,000
8. Oman: $2,000
9. Saudi Arabia: $2,000
North American Importers
North America imported $44.6 million worth of chrome led by the following countries:
1. United States: $34.2 million
2. Canada: $5.3 million
3. Mexico: $5 million
Oceanian Importers
Oceania imported $4 million worth of chrome led by the following countries:
1. Australia: $2.6 million
2. Marshall Islands: $1.3 million
3. New Zealand: $93,000
4. Tonga: $28,000
5. New Caledonia: $17,000
To see the 25 fastest-growing chrome importers from 2013 to 2017, use the slidebar on the accompanying list. Overall, the 5-year percentage gain for globally imported chrome was 30.7%.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
Top Chrome Importers 2017
Fastest-Growing Chrome Import Countries
Research Note: Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.