On 03 October 2025, the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) called for comment on the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s (the dtic) application to comment on the placing of chrome ore under export control in terms of Section 6 of the International Trade Administration (ITA) Act. Comment is due by 31 October 2025.
According to the notice:
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this notice is to inform stakeholders and interested parties of a recent Cabinet decision aimed at reviving South Africa’s chrome industry and to invite public comment on the decision to place chrome ore, classifiable under tariff subheading 2610.00, under export control by ITAC. This and other interventions are designed to improve the long-term viability and competitiveness of the chrome value chain in South Africa.
2. BACKGROUND
The South African chrome value chain, which is a significant contributor to the country’s mining and industrial base, has experienced a steady decline in recent years. This decline has been attributed to a combination of binding constraints, including rising electricity costs, global market pressures and the unregulated export of raw chrome ore. In response, the Cabinet has endorsed a coordinated intervention by government and industry stakeholders to stabilise and revitalise the chrome value chain. This decision by the cabinet includes placing chrome ore under export control by ITAC.
3. DISCUSSION
The Cabinet’s decision to place chrome ore under export control recognises the strategic importance of the chrome value chain in supporting South Africa’s industrialisation goals and mineral beneficiation strategy, including the value addition of raw minerals close to the source of mining extraction. The introduction of export control on chrome ore will be in terms of the ITA Act, 2002, which authorises the minister of trade, industry and competition (minister) to regulate imports and exports.
Specifically, Section 6(1)(d) of the Act, 2002 provides that:
(1) The minister may, by notice in the Government Gazette, prescribe that no goods of a specified class or kind, or no goods other than goods of a specified class or kind, may be:
(d) exported from South Africa, except under the authority of and in accordance with the conditions stated in a permit issued by ITAC.
Based on the Cabinet’s decision and the authority provided for under the Act, 2002, as exercised by the minister, ITAC will establish a permit processing system for chrome ore. Based on this system, prior to the exportation of any chrome ore, exporters will be required to apply to ITAC for an export permit. Assuming that a permit application is completed correctly and that all other requirements have been duly met, ITAC will issue an export permit to the applicant. This permitting process, along with the other interventions decided upon by Cabinet, will enable a more strategic management of this critical mineral resource.
4. COMMENTS
Stakeholders and other interested parties are hereby invited to submit written comments on the placing of chrome ore under export control by ITAC, as discussed above. Comments should be clearly marked ‘confidential’ or ‘non-confidential’, and if a confidential submission is made, it should be accompanied by a non-confidential version.
Comments should be submitted by 31 October 2025, to the following official:
For Attention: Director-General c/o: Mr Sisanda Mtwazi, Director: Primary Minerals Processing and Construction
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition
77 Meintjies Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, 0002
