Abstract:
The South African ferrochrome industry has been faced with various
challenges during the past few years, such as influences from the market,
manpower strikes, China’s control over the demand for both ferrochrome
and chrome ore from South Africa, and electricity supply constraints,
placing increased pressure on the local industry to improve output in order
to remain globally competitive. The year 2016 brought a dramatic change
in the local ferrochrome industry, being marked by higher chrome ore
prices and the takeover of some idle smelters.
This study investigates the methods of technology acquisition used in
various parts of the ferrochrome smelter value chain throughout a
business cycle, and whether there is a preference for a specific acquisition
in an explicit part of the value chain. The study also considers whether
companies prefer to partner with local or global institutions for
collaborative development, and the methods used by companies to protect
their technologies.
