Over 80% of the world's ferro chrome is utilised in the production of stainless steel. In 2006, 28,000,000 tons of stainless steel were produced. Stainless steel depends on chromium for its appearance and resistance to corrosion. Average chrome content in stainless steel is approx. 18%. It is also used to add chromium to carbon steel. FeCr from South Africa, known as "charge chrome" and produced from a Cr containing ore with a low carbon content, is most commonly used in stainless steel production. Alternatively, high carbon FeCr produced from high-grade ore found in Kazakhstan (among other places) is more commonly used in specialist applications such as engineering steels where a high Cr/Fe ratio and minimum levels of other elements (sulfur, phosphorus, titanium etc.) are important and production of finished metals takes place in small electric arc furnaces compared to large scale blast furnaces.
Tapping of the material from the furnace takes place intermittently. When enough smelted ferro chrome has accumulated in the furnace hearth, the tap hole is drilled open and a stream of molten metal and slag rushes down a trough into a chill or ladle. Ferrochrome solidifies in large castings which are crushed for sale or further processed. In the process of smelting, huge amounts of electricity are consumed, making production very expensive in countries where power costs are high.