Low Carbon Ferrochrome Price per Ton: Regional Quotes in China on May 12

Low Carbon Ferrochrome Price per Ton on May 12

Low carbon ferrochrome is the refined ferrochrome grade used where the steel must carry chromium without a matching carbon pick-up. The table below reproduces the prices published for major Chinese production regions on May 12, covering the FeCr55C0.03, FeCr55C0.06 and FeCr55C0.10 grades. Quotations and transactions are given side by side so that the gap between what sellers asked and what the market paid is visible in every region.

Regional Quotation Table

Grade	Region	Mainstream quotation	Change	Mainstream transaction	Change
FeCr55C0.03	Inner Mongolia	15400-15500	down 100	15300-15400	down 100
FeCr55C0.03	Sichuan	15400-15500	down 100	15300-15400	down 100
FeCr55C0.06	Inner Mongolia	13700-13800	down 100	13700-13800	down 100
FeCr55C0.06	Sichuan	13800-13900	down 100	13800-13900	down 100
FeCr55C0.06	Zhejiang	14000-14100	down 100	14000-14100	down 100
FeCr55C0.06	Shanxi	13800-13900	steady	13800	down 50
FeCr55C0.06	Jiangsu	14000-14200	down 100	14000-14200	down 100
FeCr55C0.10	Jiangsu	13800-14000	down 100	13700-14000	down 100
FeCr55C0.10	Inner Mongolia	13500-13600	down 100	13500-13600	down 100
FeCr55C0.10	Sichuan	13500-13600	down 100	13500-13600	down 100
FeCr55C0.10	Henan	13400-13500	down 100	13400-13500	down 100
FeCr55C0.10	Shanxi	13600-13700	steady	13600	down 50

All figures are quoted in RMB per 60 percent chromium basis ton, ex-works and tax included, cash payment, natural block form. The basis means the price is stated per ton of alloy calculated to a 60 percent chromium content, which is the convention used in the Chinese ferrochrome market; the physical alloy often carries a somewhat higher or lower chromium level and the invoice is adjusted accordingly.

How the Regions Compare

The most striking pattern on May 12 is how uniform the movement was. Almost every regional line fell by 100 RMB, and the two exceptions in Shanxi moved only in the transaction column, by 50 RMB, while the quotation column held. A decline of that breadth points to a market-wide adjustment rather than to a local supply problem in one province.

Between grades the ordering is consistent and expected. FeCr55C0.03, the lowest carbon grade, sits at the top of the price scale in Inner Mongolia and Sichuan at 15400-15500, FeCr55C0.06 occupies the middle ground around 13700-14200 depending on region, and FeCr55C0.10 sits lowest at 13400-13700. Refining chromium down to a very low carbon level costs more, and the price table reflects that directly.

Between regions the spread is narrower than the grade effect. For FeCr55C0.06 the range across provinces is roughly 13700 to 14200, and for FeCr55C0.10 it is 13400 to 13700. Buyers sourcing across regions should therefore compare freight and delivery terms against a fairly small price differential, because the alloy itself is priced within a tight band nationally.

Grade Chemistry of Low Carbon Ferrochrome

The specification table published with the price list describes the low carbon grades as follows. Regions reported as 52 percent minimum chromium in the market note correspond to the second class of the Cr column.

Grade	Cr (%)	C (%) max	Si (%) max	P (%) max	S (%) max
FeCr69C0.03	63-75	0.03	1.0	0.03	0.025
FeCr55C0.03	60 min (class I) / 52 min (class II)	0.03	1.5 / 2.0	0.03 / 0.04	0.03

Medium carbon grades follow the same naming convention with a higher carbon ceiling, and high carbon grades carry the highest carbon of the family. In practice the choice between them is set by the carbon budget of the heat: a stainless or low carbon steel that cannot tolerate carbon pick-up takes the low carbon grade, while a standard carbon steel heat can absorb the cheaper high carbon material.

Pricing Basis, Size and Packing

Price basis: RMB per 60 percent chromium basis ton, ex-works, tax included, cash payment.

Product form: natural block.

Size range: 10-50 mm for the standard offer.

Other chemical compositions and size ranges can be produced to order.

Packing: 1 metric ton big bags as standard.

Inspection: certificate issued by a third-party testing institution or by the producing works, according to the agreed terms.

Because the quotation is stated on a 60 percent chromium basis, the delivered value depends on the actual chromium analysis and on the size fraction supplied. A buyer comparing two regional offers should convert both to the same basis and the same size band before choosing, otherwise a lower headline number may simply reflect a coarser or finer fraction rather than a genuine price advantage.

FAQ

Q: What was the low carbon ferrochrome price per ton in China on May 12?
FeCr55C0.03 was quoted at 15400-15500 in Inner Mongolia and Sichuan, FeCr55C0.06 ranged from 13700 to 14200 by region, and FeCr55C0.10 ranged from 13400 to 13700.

Q: What unit are these ferrochrome prices quoted in?
RMB per 60 percent chromium basis ton, ex-works and tax included, on a cash basis for natural block material.

Q: How far did prices fall on May 12?
Nearly every regional line dropped by 100 RMB. Shanxi held its quotation and moved only in the transaction column, down 50 RMB.

Q: Why is FeCr55C0.03 more expensive than FeCr55C0.10?
Because the carbon ceiling is lower. Refining chromium down to 0.03 percent carbon takes more processing than stopping at 0.10 percent, so the lowest carbon grade carries the highest price.

Q: What does the 60 percent chromium basis mean?
The price is stated per ton of alloy calculated to 60 percent chromium content, which is the standard quoting convention in the Chinese market, with the invoice adjusted to the actual analysis.

Q: What size and packing are supplied?
Standard size is 10-50 mm in 1 metric ton big bags, in natural block form. Other sizes and chemical compositions can be supplied on request.