As an important strategic mineral resource, chromium is essential for developing emerging industries. The high geographical concentration and increasing demand make the international trade of the global chromium resources industry face many competitions. Therefore, based on trade data from 2005 to 2019, this paper builds the original trade network and the derived competition network of import and export trade of the whole chromium industry chain, to analyze the evolution of the global competition relationships and provide a reference for the future global trading. The results showed that: (1) The competition varies at different stages. Upstream and middle importers and exporters are gradually becoming integrated, and the oligopoly trend is obvious; Downstream competition is becoming more and more fierce. (2) In the competitive trade network, China, USA, South Africa, India, and Kazakhstan have absolute competitive advantages and have substantial control and influence on the whole network. (3) The export competition between Asia and Africa runs throughout the whole industry chain; Asia, Europe, and North America run through the import competition of the whole industry chain. (4) The world's major exporters of chromium ore, are shifting from upstream-production enterprises to joint-producer of middle and downstream products such as ferrochromium. It shows a transfer trend of export competition from the upstream to the middle and downstream. The above analysis can help countries identify their trade competitors and provide suggestions for finding new partners. [Display omitted] • Evolution of chromium competition is considered from the industrial chain perspective. • The export industry chain of major exporting countries has been extended downward. • China plays an important role in the global competition system. • The competition centers are different at different stages of the industrial chain. • The global competition of chrome import and export is becoming increasingly fierce.