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An increase in UG2 ore sales to China is not coming from South African producers, but from South African buyers of the ore, Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) said. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is shelving many of its new ferro-chrome plants because of rising costs and difficult market conditions, a Chinese executive said. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses pressure on most South African mines and a relief from South African currency rand exchange rate against the U. S. dollar. Topics discussed include the need to marketplace for African mining industry; the bad impact of China's slow economy on the industry; and views of Stephen Meintjes, analyst at financial services firm Momentum SP Reid, on the impact of weak rand on the industry; and decreasing commodities prices.

The article reports on an increasing prices for iron ore due to an unexpectedly high demand in China.

South Africa exported almost 50% more chrome ore to China in the first six months of this year, compared to the first half of last year, Merafe Resources said on August 6, when it released it first-half results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the difficult terms expected for African mining projects that seek development finance from private Chinese investors, according to market observers. It cites the rejection made by the board of Botswana-focused Discovery Metals of a hostile takeover bid by China's Cathay Fortune. According to David Meehan of Sundance Resources, junior companies wanting to get their projects into production or planning expansion need Chinese investors as the best option for financing.

The article reports on the plan of a private Chinese investor to attend Metal Bulletin's 5th South African Ferro-alloys conference in Johannesburg to search for a possible manganese project to take part with. His company is interested in manganese in South Africa, copper in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), tantalite prospects in DRC, and ferro-chrome.

The article reports on the move by Tharisa Minerals to start operating the first crusher at its 3.6-million-tonnes per year (tpy) chrome and platinum group metals (PGM) concentrate plant on July 11, 2012. It was reported that the firm is also deep into the process for regulatory approval of its ferro-chrome smelter to be built in China. The PGM plant is already producing an output of 420,000 tpy of chrome concentrate mainly for the export market.

The article deals with the problem facing South Africa's ferro-chrome industry because of an oversupply of chrome ore, according to Alistair Ruiters, chief executive officer (CEO) and chairman of Ruukki SA. Ruiters relates the 81% increase in ore costs experienced by South African consumers since 2005. He admits that they are worried about a big increase in exports of UG2, the chrome ore byproduct from platinum production, to China.

The reports that the ferro-chrome industry of South Africa is unlikely to reap any benefits from a chrome export tax, according to Duncan Hobbs, senior analyst of commodities and mining research at Macquarie Capital. The tax is supported by ferro-chrome producers who claim that the export of cheap ore to China undermines the prices of both ore and alloy. Hobbs, on the other hand, attributes the decline in South Africa's market share in global ferrochrome production to the growth of China.

The article reports that bauxite junior miner Alufer has predicted that the price of bauxite will go up, similar to what happened in the iron ore market. It is noted that demand by China for the material will be the key driver for pure bauxite players to emerge. The material is the raw material for aluminum.

The author discusses his work responsibilities as a chrome ore exporter. While he maintains a regular job at a bank, he mentions that he also sells chrome ore to car manufacturers in countries like Korea and China. Despite of being in the said field for seven years, he stresses that it is difficult to stay profitable in the export business. The challenges associated with exporting chrome ore which include cheating and betrayal are also described.

The article highlights Tharisa chief executive officer (CEO) Phoevos Pouroulis' outlook for the chrome industry for 2012. He predicts that demand for chrome from India and China will revive the market. Pouroulis also discusses the plans of Tharisa to increase its chrome concentrate production, and highlights the challenges facing the market in 2012.

The article discusses a possible partnership between Rio Tinto and Taurus Mineral for uranium operations in Namibia as of December 2011. It states that Taurus Mineral is a Chinese consortium made up of the China Guandong Nuclear Power Group (CGNPG) and the China-Africa Development Fund. It reports that on December 8, the group mad a 987 million dollar cash offer for Extract Resource's operations in Rössing, Namibia, and that Rio Tinto is considering a tie up with them.

The article warns that African mining projects looking for development finance from private Chinese investors will find tougher terms as Chinese investors are more shrewd in their asset valuations. Such warnings comes after the decision of Discovery Metals to reject a hostile takeover bid by China's Cathay Fortune. David Meehan, chief operating officer at Sundance Resources, said that the Chinese government and investors are more adept in how they value and negotiate for African mining assets.

The article deals with Macquarie Capital senior analyst Duncan Hobbs' view that the South African ferro-chrome industry is unlikely to reap any benefits from a chrome export tax. Hobbs spoke at Metal Bulletin's Chromite Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa in July 2012. The export tax is being pushed by ferro-chrome producers who believe that the export of cheap ore to China is negatively affecting the South African market.