RUSTENBURG: PLATINUM AND CHROME IN THE SPOTLIGHT
By Sharon Mdaka
MTE EXHIBITIONS •
Rustenburg’ s mining and industrial hub remains central to South Africa’ s platinum group metal( PGMs), along with its chrome operations. These commodities are crucial to employment and infrastructure in the North West Province, but both are also operating in an environment where the margin for error is thin.
The annual Rustenburg expo, hosted by Mining and Technical Exhibitions, is set to take place on 16 April 2026, from 13:00 to 17:00. This region is renowned for its platinum and chrome activities.
By the end of 2025, the World Platinum Investment Council( WPIC) reported that the platinum market was expected to move to being in“ balance” in 2026, with a forecast 20koz surplus. This outlook is based on tariff flexibility and growing demand from the automotive and industrial sectors, which could trigger a forecast 150koz outflow from exchange held stocks and a higher platinum price, in turn prompting 170koz of profit taking from exchange traded funds( ETFs).
At the time the CEO of WPIC, Trevor Raymond, had stated that the 2025 market deficit had been underlined by trader tensions linked to investment flows, citing the persistence of“ extreme” global uncertainty.“ Our current forecast for a balanced market in 2026 assumes that trade tensions abate. If these tensions continue, then 2026 is likely to be another year where we see platinum supply again fall short of demand,” he said.
The WPIC’ s third quarter report for 2025 indicated an increase of about 4 % year-on-year to 7 404koz due to the increase in recycling, as well as mine supply growing 2 % to 5 622koz.
The report also indicated that the automotive demand had increased 10 % above the past five years, with the jewellery industry experiencing a growth of 7 %, boosted by the Chinese market. The market also saw an increase in bar and coin investment, recording 47 % year-on-year growth in 2025, led by surging demand in China.
The region is home to some of the world ' s largest platinum and chrome mines, and the MTE show will provide a platform to connect industry players, with showcases from companies that supply equipment and products used for these commodities, offering practical solutions to operational challenges. The high-impact expo is designed around interactive engagement and networking on a face-to-face level, and is solutions-driven.
For mining operations around Rustenburg, this debate is not abstract. Chrome and PGMs share exposure to the same infrastructure constraints – power availability, logistics, spares’ lead times, and the same pressure to keep costs under control while sustaining output.
In 2026, Chrome’ s outlook is therefore less about volumes and more about operational resilience. Operations are focused on staying competitive within existing limits, not betting on policy shifts.
The high-impact expo will be attended by suppliers who specialise in equipment and products used for platinum and chrome mining, processing, smelting and refining equipment or services, looking at efficiency and cost-saving products and services.
Face-to-face interaction In-person engagement remains invaluable, particularly at the operational level. Trust, reliability and long-term support underpin supplier-mine relationships, which is why this MTE show is a must for mining houses and miners.
Regional exhibitions offer mine personnel a chance to ask direct questions, challenge assumptions and compare experiences with peers. Understanding real-world performance, failure modes and maintenance realities often proves more useful than reviewing brochures or specifications. In high-risk, high-pressure environments, such interactions are often crucial.
From an operational standpoint, these engagements also support smarter decision-making. Even without an immediate procurement outcome, exposure to alternative approaches can inform future planning and risk mitigation. In this sense, the benefit of attending an MTE show is often cumulative rather than instant. •
References:
1. https:// platinuminvestment. com / files / 954835 / WPIC _ PR _ PQ _ Q3 _ 2025 _ 20251119. pdf 2. www. mineralscouncil. org. za
North West Province is a centre point of global platinum group metal( PGM) supply and provides substantial production of chrome, and with it, logistics activity.
Chrome South Africa possesses most of the world’ s chrome ore deposits and exports are a significant source of mining income and jobs. Yet, the long-running debate over the future of ferrochrome production remains unresolved.
Industry bodies, including the Minerals Council South Africa, have been consistent in their assessment: electricity cost and reliability remain the single biggest constraint on local ferrochrome competitiveness. Policy discussions around export controls or beneficiation requirements have come and gone, but without meaningful relief on energy pricing, structural pressure persists.
© Mining and Technical Exhibitions( MTE)
The Mining and Technical Exhibitions( MTE) will visit Rustenburg in April. www. africanmining. co. za African Mining Publication African Mining
African Mining • March 2026 • 23