South Africa is a core global supplier of chromium ore. It holds 35.7% of global reserves and export more than 80% of chromite sand in the world . Furthermore, Supply of chromite ore in China dependence on imported chromium ore and over 80% coming from South Africa. Almost 90% of foundry chromite sand in China imported from South Africa. This highly concentrated supply and demand structure meant that the 2026 South African floods significantly impacted global chromite sand prices. The core impacts were concentrated in the following aspects:

Mining is a traditional industry in South American countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Chile. This industry has a large demand for mining machinery and equipment. Chromite sand(Chrome sand)  is a major molding sand material needed for producing castings for machinery and equipment. Recently, chromite sand AFS45-50 export to South America is being loaded into containers and awaiting shipment.

AFS45-50 chromite sand has unique advantages as both face sand and molding sand in the casting of high-manganese steel (Mn18Cr2/Mn22Cr2) liners for cone crusher jaws.

Foundry-grade chromite sand AFS 45-55 – the work-horse for heavy-section steel and manganese-steel castings – is bought on a very short list of numbers.
The “key technical index” that meet GOST 23409.24-78  and SFSA 16 T-67 standard given below. If any item drifts outside these bands the sand is either rejected or priced down.

Foundry chromite sand is popular for Iron, Metal casting process. It is featured for it’s high refractoriness, low volume expansion and high thermal conductivity.

However, as a mineral product, it is hard to judge the quality by eyes. Here we give several aspect to check the foundry chromite sand quality.

It is well known that South Africa chromite sand with a 46% content are primarily used in two industrial applications: ladle tundish nozzle filler and foundry molding sand. As a natural mineral product, chromite sand vary in size after crushing. Seiving with different mesh can get a particle size range that best meets the desired requirements. Generally, the more uniform the chromite sand, the better its performance as ladle well filler sand and casting sand.