Iron Ore Statistics and Information (2024)

Iron ore is a mineral substance which, when heated in the presence of a reductant, will yield metallic iron (Fe). It almost always consists of iron oxides, the primary forms of which are magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and hematite (Fe₂O₃).

Iron ore is the source of primary iron for the world's iron and steel industries. It is therefore essential for the production of steel, which in turn is essential to maintain a strong industrial base.Almost all (98%) iron ore is used in steelmaking.Iron ore is mined in about 50 countries. The seven largest of these producing countries account for about three-quarters of total world production. Australia and Brazil together dominate the world's iron ore exports, each having about one-third of total exports.

Subscribeto receive an email notification when a new publication is added to this page. On the Questions tab of the subscriber preferences page, select "Iron Ore" and any other options in which you may be interested. Please see thelist servicespage for more information.

Monthly Publications

Mineral Industry Surveys

• Iron Ore
  PDF Format:
  2024: | Jan|Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
  2023:|May|Jun |Jul| Aug| Sep| Oct| Nov | Dec |
  XLSX Format:
  2024: | Jan|Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
  2023:|May|Jun |Jul|Aug|Sep|Oct| Nov | Dec |
• U.S Production of Selected Mineral Commodities (Quarterly Mineral Industry Surveys)

Annual Publications

Mineral Commodity Summaries

• Iron Ore
  PDF Format:
  |1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012|2013|2014|2015|2016|2017|2018| 2019 | 2020 |2021 | 2022 |2023 | 2024 |
• Appendixes

Minerals Yearbook

• Iron Ore
  PDF Format:
  |1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015|2016|2017| 2018 |
  XLS Format:
  |2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015| 2016| 2017| 2018| 2019 tables-only release|2020 tables-only release| 2021 tables-only release|
• Archive
  |1932-1993|

Special Publications

• Challenges Facing the North American Iron Ore Industry
  Open-File Report 2006-1061
• Factors that Influence the Price of Al, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Rare Earth Elements, and Zn
  Open-File Report 2008-1356
• Historical Statistics for Mineral and Material Commodities in the United States
  Data Series 140
  • Iron Ore
• Metal Prices in the United States through 2010
  Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5188
• Review of selected global mineral industries in 2011 and an outlook to 2017
  Open-File Report 2013-1091
• Statistical Compendium
  • Iron Ore
• USGS revision of global iron ore production data—Clarification of the reporting of iron ore production in China and application of a uniform comparison methodology (2000-2015)

Links

• Iron Mining Association

Related Mineral Commodities:

• USGS Ferroalloys Statistics and Information
• USGS Iron and SteelStatistics and Information
• USGS Iron and Steel ScrapStatistics and Information
• USGS Iron and Steel SlagStatistics and Information