[Ferro-alloys.com]Japan imported 84,878 mt of high-carbon ferrochrome in August, up 49.4% from 56,801 mt from July, and up 6.4% from 79,792 mt in August 2011. Imports in August from South Africa jumped to 46,158 mt, up 70.9% from 27,015 mt in July, and up 5.2% from 43,880 mt in August 2011. Kazakhstan supplied 26,505 mt, up 23.1% from 21,525 mt in July, but down 9.2% from 29,198 mt in August 2011. Most Western producers have shifted their sales from China to other countries, including Japan. However, high-carbon ferrochrome imports for the first eight months of 2012 totaled 479,927 mt, down 4.6% (503,261 mt) for the same 2011 period. The imports from South Africa accounted for 49.3% with 236,400 mt, as compared to 45.8% (230,690 mt) a year ago. Kazakhstan accounted for 37.9% (181,665 mt), as compared to 41% (206,101 mt). The imports from India were 41,544 mt, down from 51,315 mt a year ago.

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