High-carbon ferrochrome, refers to the alloy material composed of iron, chromium, carbon and other elements, with a carbon content of 4~10%. High-carbon ferrochrome has a lumpy appearance with the advantages of good plasticity, high strength, impact resistance, good thermal stability, good wear resistance, etc. It is widely used in the fields of refractories, metal smelting, aerospace, and machinery manufacturing.

High-carbon ferrochrome can be made using several methods like molten reduction, electric furnace, plasma, and blast furnace. The electric and blast furnace methods are the traditional ones for making high-carbon ferrochrome. However, the blast furnace method has been phased out due to its low yield and poor product quality. On the other hand, the electric furnace method is the main way we produce high-carbon ferrochrome in China because it's eco-friendly, efficient, and easy to control.
In recent years, new methods like plasma and molten reduction have started to be used more in making high-carbon ferrochrome. With ongoing research and technological innovations, the development of our high-carbon ferrochrome industry is expected to speed up.
The raw materials for high-carbon ferrochrome include quartz, chromite ore, and coke, with chromite ore being the main production cost. Although China has vast lands and rich mineral resources, chromite ore is scarce, so we rely heavily on imports to meet demand. Due to limited raw material supply, the price of high-carbon ferrochrome in China keeps rising. In 2022, the highest price for high-carbon ferrochrome in China reached 10,000 yuan per 50%-based tons.

According to the "2023-2028 China High-Carbon Ferrochrome (Big-Eye Chrome) Industry Market In-Depth Research and Development Prospect Forecast Report" by Xinsijie Industry Research Center, high-carbon ferrochrome is a key raw material for stainless steel, and the metal smelting industry is its main consumer. Stainless steel is popular for its corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance, and high strength, making it widely used in fields like healthcare, aerospace, electronics, and construction.
China is a leading producer of stainless steel and has been at the top for several years. The Stainless Steel Branch of the China Iron and Steel Association reported that in the first half of 2023, China produced 17.59 million tons of crude stainless steel, an 8.2% increase from the previous year. As demand continues to grow, the market for high-carbon ferrochrome in China is set to expand further.
Some of the major producers of high-carbon ferrochrome in China include Lianyun Ferroalloy, Xintai Hongfeng Ferroalloy, Hongyang New Material, XGL Metallurgy, Xiongwei Guangda, Mingtuo Group, and TISCO Wanbang. Although there are many producers, the market lacks dominant companies, and there's still room for improvement in industry concentration.

According to analysts at Xinsijie, high-carbon ferrochrome is a versatile high-performance alloy used in many fields. With the rapid growth of downstream industries, demand for high-carbon ferrochrome in China is increasing. As production costs go down and technology improves, China's high-carbon ferrochrome industry is shifting towards higher quality and greater output. In the coming years, companies that can mass-produce high-quality high-carbon ferrochrome are expected to dominate the market.