On 3 October 2025, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) published a notice inviting public comment on a proposal to place chrome ore (tariff subheading 2610.00) under export control. This step follows a Cabinet decision in June 2025 to support the revival of South Africa’s struggling chrome industry, a sector that remains vital to both the mining and manufacturing value chains. If implemented, the export of chrome ore will require a permit issued by the International Trade Administration Commission (Itac).
Why the change?
The notice attributes the decline in the chrome value chain to a combination of rising electricity costs, global market pressures, and the unregulated export of raw chrome ore. The government’s stated objective is to strengthen domestic beneficiation by ensuring that a greater portion of South Africa’s chrome is processed locally before export. The Cabinet has approved this approach as part of the broader industrialisation and value-addition strategy. While the intention is framed as supporting long-term competitiveness, the notice provides little detail on how the proposed permit system will operate in practice, including what conditions will apply, how permits will be issued, or how long they will remain valid.
What happens next?
The current public consultation phase represents the first formal opportunity for stakeholders to comment on the proposed measure. Once the comment period closes, Itac is expected to publish a subsequent gazette setting out the permit conditions and implementation timelines. From that point, the export control framework would become effective, either immediately or on a specified future date. Interested parties are encouraged to submit comments or questions so their perspectives can shape the final measure.