Established in 1984, by the industry and for the industry, the ICDA has become a unique organisation for chromium in all its forms. There are over a hundred members across the value chain, promoting sustainable development of the chromium industry.

In 1984, eight companies from the chromium industry in South Africa, India, the Philippines, Spain, Sweden and Greece became convinced that there was a need for cooperation as an industry in terms of best practices, health safety and environment, ethics as well as to have an independent organisation capable of promoting chromium uses, protecting existing applications and encouraging new ones. A forum was needed that is regulated by strict antitrust rules where the chromium industry could work together on these topics of general interest.

Hence the ICDA was born, the organisation has been growing thanks to commitment from its members and is managed by permanent staff under strategic guidance from the ICDA Council lead by its President and Vice President.

Currently, the ICDA is a reference for the chromium industry that provides independent market research, health safety and environmental studies, as well as educational tools related to the benefits and uses of chromium. 

● Caring for People and the Planet

The ICDA is proactive with regards to the impact of the industry’s processes, products and services on people and the environment. Regulatory compliance and responsible production – including the use and recycling of chromium in all its forms – are key to the Association’s Sustainability Charter. The chrome industry is committed to the goal of a healthy,  injury and illness-free workplace. The ICDA aims to set the benchmark in health and safety, and provide up-to-date information on these matters as well as actively promoting a sustainable chromium industry.

● Developing the Market

Chromium is never used alone, but always as an ingredient in other products. The ICDA therefore establishes marketing partnerships with industry bodies that promote new applications for chrome. In this way the ICDA sustains existing and emerging markets by cooperating in dedicated projects and promoting networking. Since some 90% of the use of chrome ore is in stainless and alloyed steels, the ICDA’s partners are primarily steel development associations around the world. Partners also include bodies representing non-metallic uses of chromium such as leather tanning associations.

● Sharing Scientific and Technical Information

The Association keeps a watching brief on regulatory issues and on the advantages of new technological processes. It provides risk and hazard assessment information, reviews of data by independent organisations and consistent responses to HSE issues.The ICDA succeeded in establishing EU REACH Consortia and funded and monitored studies that were critical for the industry REACH dossiers.

● Serving its Members

As the voice of the chrome industry, the ICDA organises international seminars and annual conferences for the industry and its partners, with prominent speakers, global industry 

overviews, profiles of national industries and a forum for exchange and networking. Great care is taken to ensure global participation in these activities. Collecting and disseminating global production data, trade movements and the latest industry news, the ICDA publishes a Weekly Market Update (in English and Chinese) and an annual Statistical Bulletin that is   considered a reference document. It also provides its Members with access to a wealth of privileged information and specific market reports.

● Providing Benchmark Knowledge

The information and experience amassed by the ICDA, its Members and its working groups, in terms of statistics, regulations, standardization, production, clean technologies, etc., have established numerous benchmarks. The results of these studies and many others are freely available to members. Access to this industry knowledge is of inestimable value, especially to a new member or an emerging country in need of authoritative guidance and information on matters concerning chrome.