# Chromium Price per kg (United States)

As of October 2026, the US benchmark price of chromium is $1.86 per kg contained. The price has reached its highest level of the past year, $1.86 per kg contained.

Source: https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/chromium-price-us
Category: Critical Minerals (https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/critical-minerals)
Lists: US Critical Minerals List

## Key figures

| Figure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Price per kg contained | $1.86 |
| Price type | Stockatomics monthly benchmark |
| Price month | October 2026 |
| 1-month change | - |
| 6-month change | +40.0% |
| 1-year change | - |
| 5-year change | +173.6% |
| 12-month high | $1.86 |
| 12-month low | $1.33 |
| Last updated | 18 October 2026 |

## Price summary

At $1.86, the price is at its highest in the past 12 months. In the past year the monthly price has moved between $1.33 and $1.86.

## Chromium monthly prices

USD per kg contained, newest first.

| Month | Price | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| October 2026 | $1.86 | 0.0% |
| September 2026 | $1.86 | 0.0% |
| August 2026 | $1.86 | 0.0% |
| July 2026 | $1.86 | +24.0% |
| June 2026 | $1.50 | 0.0% |
| May 2026 | $1.50 | −12.8% |
| April 2026 | $1.72 | 0.0% |
| March 2026 | $1.72 | +29.3% |
| February 2026 | $1.33 | 0.0% |
| January 2026 | $1.33 | −16.4% |
| December 2025 | $1.59 | 0.0% |
| November 2025 | $1.59 | +37.1% |
| October 2025 | $1.16 | −7.9% |
| September 2025 | $1.26 | 0.0% |
| August 2025 | $1.26 | −18.2% |
| July 2025 | $1.54 | 0.0% |
| June 2025 | $1.54 | +25.2% |
| May 2025 | $1.23 | −19.1% |
| April 2025 | $1.52 | 0.0% |
| March 2025 | $1.52 | +16.9% |
| February 2025 | $1.30 | −1.5% |
| January 2025 | $1.32 | 0.0% |
| December 2024 | $1.32 | −2.9% |
| November 2024 | $1.36 | +17.2% |
| October 2024 | $1.16 | 0.0% |
| September 2024 | $1.16 | +9.4% |
| August 2024 | $1.06 | 0.0% |
| July 2024 | $1.06 | −16.5% |
| June 2024 | $1.27 | 0.0% |
| May 2024 | $1.27 | −7.3% |
| April 2024 | $1.37 | −4.2% |
| March 2024 | $1.43 | +23.3% |
| February 2024 | $1.16 | 0.0% |
| January 2024 | $1.16 | −0.9% |
| December 2023 | $1.17 | −7.1% |
| November 2023 | $1.26 | 0.0% |
| October 2023 | $1.26 | +9.6% |
| September 2023 | $1.15 | −19.0% |
| August 2023 | $1.42 | +180.2% |
| July 2023 | $0.51 | 0.0% |
| June 2023 | $0.51 | −37.4% |
| May 2023 | $0.81 | 0.0% |
| April 2023 | $0.81 | −37.7% |
| March 2023 | $1.30 | 0.0% |
| February 2023 | $1.30 | 0.0% |
| January 2023 | $1.30 | 0.0% |
| December 2022 | $1.30 | +38.3% |
| November 2022 | $0.94 | 0.0% |
| October 2022 | $0.94 | 0.0% |
| September 2022 | $0.94 | −27.2% |
| August 2022 | $1.29 | +26.5% |
| July 2022 | $1.02 | +45.2% |
| June 2022 | $0.70 | +18.9% |
| May 2022 | $0.59 | 0.0% |
| April 2022 | $0.59 | −46.3% |
| March 2022 | $1.10 | 0.0% |
| February 2022 | $1.10 | +63.7% |
| January 2022 | $0.67 | 0.0% |
| December 2021 | $0.67 | +23.5% |
| November 2021 | $0.54 | −42.3% |
| October 2021 | $0.94 | +41.3% |
| September 2021 | $0.67 | −2.2% |
| August 2021 | $0.68 | 0.0% |
| July 2021 | $0.68 | +16.2% |
| June 2021 | $0.59 | −49.4% |
| May 2021 | $1.16 | +23.3% |
| April 2021 | $0.94 | +51.3% |
| March 2021 | $0.62 | −18.5% |
| February 2021 | $0.76 | 0.0% |
| January 2021 | $0.76 | +60.2% |
| December 2020 | $0.48 | 0.0% |
| November 2020 | $0.48 | −65.8% |
| October 2020 | $1.39 | 0.0% |
| September 2020 | $1.39 | +110.1% |
| August 2020 | $0.66 | 0.0% |
| July 2020 | $0.66 | +1.6% |
| June 2020 | $0.65 | +29.8% |
| May 2020 | $0.50 | −22.6% |
| April 2020 | $0.65 | −16.5% |
| March 2020 | $0.78 | 0.0% |
| February 2020 | $0.78 | +29.3% |
| January 2020 | $0.60 | 0.0% |
| December 2019 | $0.60 | −23.8% |
| November 2019 | $0.79 | −11.6% |
| October 2019 | $0.89 | +64.9% |
| September 2019 | $0.54 | −26.4% |
| August 2019 | $0.74 | 0.0% |
| July 2019 | $0.74 | −42.1% |
| June 2019 | $1.27 | −18.1% |
| May 2019 | $1.55 | 0.0% |
| April 2019 | $1.55 | +132.9% |
| March 2019 | $0.67 | −56.2% |
| February 2019 | $1.52 | 0.0% |
| January 2019 | $1.52 | +124.2% |
| December 2018 | $0.68 | −60.4% |
| November 2018 | $1.71 | 0.0% |
| October 2018 | $1.71 | +103.5% |
| September 2018 | $0.84 | −1.1% |
| August 2018 | $0.85 | −53.3% |
| July 2018 | $1.82 | +9.6% |
| June 2018 | $1.66 | +16.9% |
| May 2018 | $1.42 | +91.6% |
| April 2018 | $0.74 | +3.4% |
| March 2018 | $0.72 | −53.5% |
| February 2018 | $1.54 | +93.6% |
| January 2018 | $0.80 | 0.0% |
| December 2017 | $0.80 | −30.8% |
| November 2017 | $1.15 | +29.5% |
| October 2017 | $0.89 | 0.0% |
| September 2017 | $0.89 | −22.8% |
| August 2017 | $1.15 | +20.6% |
| July 2017 | $0.95 | 0.0% |
| June 2017 | $0.95 | −2.0% |
| May 2017 | $0.97 | −11.6% |
| April 2017 | $1.10 | +99.3% |
| March 2017 | $0.55 | −50.3% |
| February 2017 | $1.11 | +110.8% |
| January 2017 | $0.53 | 0.0% |
| December 2016 | $0.53 | −36.6% |
| November 2016 | $0.83 | −3.7% |
| October 2016 | $0.86 | 0.0% |
| September 2016 | $0.86 | −13.2% |
| August 2016 | $0.99 | +103.5% |
| July 2016 | $0.49 | −45.6% |
| June 2016 | $0.90 | −10.1% |
| May 2016 | $1.00 | +89.5% |
| April 2016 | $0.53 | 0.0% |
| March 2016 | $0.53 | −34.2% |
| February 2016 | $0.80 | −8.0% |
| January 2016 | $0.87 | +9.6% |
| December 2015 | $0.80 | 0.0% |
| November 2015 | $0.80 | −12.7% |
| October 2015 | $0.91 | −5.7% |
| September 2015 | $0.97 | +32.6% |
| August 2015 | $0.73 | +51.9% |
| July 2015 | $0.48 | 0.0% |
| June 2015 | $0.48 | −23.6% |
| May 2015 | $0.63 | −30.4% |
| April 2015 | $0.90 | −11.6% |
| March 2015 | $1.02 | +74.4% |
| February 2015 | $0.58 | 0.0% |
| January 2015 | $0.58 | −20.9% |
| December 2014 | $0.74 | −26.0% |
| November 2014 | $1.00 | −2.1% |
| October 2014 | $1.02 | +5.0% |
| September 2014 | $0.97 | +46.4% |
| August 2014 | $0.66 | −5.8% |
| July 2014 | $0.70 | 0.0% |
| June 2014 | $0.70 | −32.3% |
| May 2014 | $1.04 | −13.3% |
| April 2014 | $1.20 | 0.0% |
| March 2014 | $1.20 | +55.0% |
| February 2014 | $0.77 | −3.8% |
| January 2014 | $0.81 | 0.0% |
| December 2013 | $0.81 | 0.0% |
| November 2013 | $0.81 | −31.2% |
| October 2013 | $1.17 | +50.6% |
| September 2013 | $0.78 | −40.2% |
| August 2013 | $1.30 | +15.0% |
| July 2013 | $1.13 | 0.0% |
| June 2013 | $1.13 | +39.9% |
| May 2013 | $0.81 | −64.1% |
| April 2013 | $2.25 | 0.0% |
| March 2013 | $2.25 | −32.4% |
| February 2013 | $3.33 | +3.4% |
| January 2013 | $3.22 | +252.9% |
| December 2012 | $0.91 | −43.7% |
| November 2012 | $1.62 | +93.3% |
| October 2012 | $0.84 | −64.6% |
| September 2012 | $2.37 | +139.7% |
| August 2012 | $0.99 | −56.4% |
| July 2012 | $2.27 | +133.5% |
| June 2012 | $0.97 | −68.4% |
| May 2012 | $3.08 | +115.4% |
| April 2012 | $1.43 | +26.5% |
| March 2012 | $1.13 | +21.2% |
| February 2012 | $0.93 | 0.0% |
| January 2012 | $0.93 | −58.0% |
| December 2011 | $2.22 | +91.4% |
| November 2011 | $1.16 | −12.8% |
| October 2011 | $1.33 | +45.3% |
| September 2011 | $0.92 | −33.2% |
| August 2011 | $1.37 | −54.5% |
| July 2011 | $3.01 | +204.1% |
| June 2011 | $0.99 | −31.7% |
| May 2011 | $1.45 | +10.7% |
| April 2011 | $1.31 | +67.9% |
| March 2011 | $0.78 | −17.6% |
| February 2011 | $0.95 | +56.8% |
| January 2011 | $0.60 | −11.0% |
| December 2010 | $0.68 | −44.0% |
| November 2010 | $1.21 | +60.9% |
| October 2010 | $0.75 | −28.4% |
| September 2010 | $1.05 | −7.9% |
| August 2010 | $1.14 | +89.8% |
| July 2010 | $0.60 | −76.0% |
| June 2010 | $2.50 | +197.9% |
| May 2010 | $0.84 | −61.7% |
| April 2010 | $2.19 | 0.0% |
| March 2010 | $2.19 | +152.8% |
| February 2010 | $0.87 | - |

## What chromium is used for

Chromium (Cr) is what makes **stainless steel** stainless: once steel contains enough chromium, it forms a thin, self-healing oxide layer that stops rust. Most chromite ore is therefore smelted into **ferrochrome** for the stainless industry. Chromium is also essential in the **nickel superalloys** of jet engines and gas turbines, where it protects against heat and corrosion.

### Other uses

- Chrome plating for hardness and finish
- Refractory bricks for furnaces
- Pigments, leather tanning and wood treatment chemicals
- Alloy steels for tools and engineering

## Chromium supply and demand factors

Chromium demand is effectively **stainless steel** demand, and stainless output is led by China and Indonesia. Supply of chromite ore is dominated by South Africa, while ferrochrome smelting has shifted towards China, where cheap power and ore imports meet. South African electricity shortages and logistics problems have repeatedly shaken ferrochrome supply.

### What moves the price

- Stainless steel output in China and Indonesia
- South African power supply and rail and port capacity
- Chinese ferrochrome smelting margins
- Superalloy demand from aerospace

## Chromium price history

Chromium prices follow the stainless steel cycle, with ferrochrome as the traded form. Ferrochrome rose through 2017 and 2018, fell during the pandemic and climbed again in 2021 and 2022 as energy costs soared and South African power cuts constrained smelters. Shifts of smelting capacity towards China have added a structural layer to the market.

As of October 2026, the Stockatomics benchmark price is $1.86 per kg contained.

## Where chromium is produced

**South Africa** produces most of the world's chromite ore, followed by Kazakhstan, Turkey, India and Finland. **China** has become the largest ferrochrome producer, using imported ore. The United States has no domestic chromite mining.

## Why chromium is a critical mineral

Chromium is on the **US critical minerals list**. Stainless steel and superalloys depend on it, the United States has no domestic chromite mining, and supply of ore and ferrochrome is concentrated in South Africa and China.

## How the chromium benchmark price is calculated

Stockatomics publishes a monthly US benchmark price for chromium in US dollars per kg contained, reading as of October 2026. The price is per kg of contained chromium, which matches how ferrochrome is traded in the US, and is not a price for a stainless steel grade or for raw chromite.

### Converting the price

- Per pound of contained chromium: multiply the price per kg by 0.4536

## Chromium stocks

| Company | Ticker | Exchange | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Glencore](https://www.stockatomics.com/companies/glencore-otc-glcnf) | GLCNF | OTC | Producer |
| [Sibanye-Stillwater](https://www.stockatomics.com/companies/sibanye-stillwater-nyse-sbsw) | SBSW | NYSE | By-product producer |

## FAQ

### What is the price of chromium per kg today?

As of October 2026, the US benchmark price of chromium is $1.86 per kg contained. Stockatomics updates it every month.

### Why is chromium important?

It is what makes stainless steel resist rust, and it is essential to the superalloys used in jet engines.

### Where does chromium come from?

Most chromite ore is mined in South Africa, while China is the largest producer of ferrochrome, the form used in steel.

### Does the United States mine chromium?

No. It imports all of its chromite and ferrochrome.

### How is the chromium benchmark price calculated?

The Stockatomics benchmark for chromium is a monthly US price in US dollars per kg contained, published every month and current as of October 2026.

## Related commodities

- [Copper price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/copper-price-us): $13.92 per kg contained
- [Cobalt price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/cobalt-price-us): $56.81 per kg contained
- [Nickel price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/nickel-price-us): $17.24 per kg contained
- [Iridium price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/iridium-price-us): $158,394 per kg contained
- [Lead price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/lead-price-us): $1.93 per kg contained
- [Metallurgical coal price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/metallurgical-coal-price-us): $0.15 per kg coal

## Sources

- U.S. trade data: the monthly chromium price.
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): the US critical minerals list.
- Company filings: the listed companies and their roles.

Last updated 18 October 2026.