MTE EXHIBITIONS •
MTE TO TARGET RUSTENBURG AND BRITS OPERATIONS IN APRIL 2024
By Sharyn Macnamara
Mining and Technical Exhibitions ( MTE ) is back in the western limb chrome and platinum belt for its annual high-impact combo expos on 8 and 10 April 2025 , in Brits and Rustenburg , respectively .
“ South Africa maintained its position as the world ’ s leading producer of chromite ore in 2024 , with output exceeding 22 million tonnes … despite security issues , including ongoing incidents of cable theft , remaining a critical issue along the chrome rail lines from the North West and Limpopo provinces to Richards Bay and the Port of Durban . The lack of visibility and control over high-value ferrochrome during transit has discouraged companies from using rail , favouring road transport through Komatipoort instead .
Image by © MTE
MTE western limb chrome and platinum belt tour , 2024 .
In 2024 , MTE hosted a total of 622 mining professionals and 179 exhibitor stands at its Mooinooi and Rustenburg expos over a three-day period , and " this despite the downswing in PGMs in the market ,” says Andrew Macnamara , operations director at the company . This year the company expects operations in the Mooinooi area to visit its Rustenburg expo , while a new leg of the tour has been brought in to target the Brits business sector to add more value to the mining ecosystem in the area . The Brits expo will be a mining and general industry exhibition , while Rustenburg remains a mining specific show .
Status of the economy Per the Minerals Council of South Africa , the PGMs basket price in Dollar terms declined by more than 40 % in 2024 : “ The ‘ good ’ news was that the overall PGMs basket prices were relatively stable for most of the year . An important factor behind this was the slowdown in electric vehicle ( EV ) adoption and the realisation that future EV sales would not grow as fast as previously envisaged . Unlike vehicles with internal combustion engines ( ICEs ), PGMs are not used in EVs . However , hybrid vehicles , which provide a bridge between ICEs and EVs , are becoming more popular . On the margin , lower global inflation and interest rates may have also helped to stabilise PGM prices .
In addition , the delayed response in the South African sector to sustained low metal prices affecting profitability , was restructuring and cost cutting , with the rightsizing of the labour force as a last resort .
Chrome , on the other hand , has experienced an upswing , despite challenges in logistics . The Minerals Council says ,
" Chrome exports are expected to continue growing , driven by road transport to Maputo , as rail and operational challenges at Transnet persist . However , road transport is approximately 40 % more expensive than rail , making the profitability of this mode of export highly sensitive to fluctuations in commodity prices . Additionally , recent social unrest and the resultant disruptions to business operations in Mozambique following the disputed October 2024 general election have introduced uncertainty to domestic exporters that use the port of Maputo . In 2024 , more than 50 % of South Africa ’ s total export tonnages of chrome went through Maputo . Most of South Africa ’ s chrome demand comes from China , which has experienced slower economic growth . According to IMF forecasts , China ’ s growth rate is expected to decline from 4.8 % in 2024 to 4.5 % in 2025 . An interesting dynamic in 2024 was sustained strong Chinese import demand for South African chrome despite weaker real GDP growth . This may be tied to geopolitics as China builds inventories of strategic minerals as a safeguard against possible future trade or other disruptions . As inventories increase , the sustainability of Chinese demand is in question if underlying stainless-steel demand does not pick up .” 1
Macnamara notes , “ There are both opportunities and challenges in the chrome and PGMs sector of the industry at the moment , but after visiting the areas in our marketing preparations , it is clear that all the required adjustments have been made in the PGMs and chrome operations specifically to manage tough times , and its head down and shoulder to the grindstone right now . A ramp up of effective production is expected and the more technical support we can offer the sector , the better !”
Rabboni Christian School is the venue for MTE ’ s first leg of the combo tour in Brits . The event takes place between 13:00 and 17:00 on 8 April 2025 . MTE moves on to Rustenburg for the second show , to be held at the Impala Rugby Club , between 13:00 and 17:00 on 10 April 2024 . •
For more information contact Andrew on + 27 ( 0 ) 82 720 0083 or andrew @ interactmedia . co . za
Source :
1 . Minerals Council South Africa FACTS AND FIGURES POCKETBOOK 2024
www . africanmining . co . za African Mining Publication African Mining African Mining • March 2025 • 19