List of Top 10 Iron Ore-Producing Countries in the World

List of Top 10 Iron Ore-Producing Countries in the World: The Top 10 Iron Ore-Producing Countries in the World are Australia, Brazil, China, India, Russia, Ukraine, South Africa, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Canada. The largest iron ore-producing country is Australia, which produced 880 million Metric Tonnes (MT) of useable iron ore in 2022, followed by Brazil and China as the second and third-highest iron ore-producing countries with 410 million MT and 380 million MT of useable iron ore.

In this article, we will look into the list of the top 10 iron-producing countries of the world along with their contribution to the global iron-ore output.

Top 10 Iron Ore Producing Countries In 2024

According to the latest data provided by the US Geological Survey, Australia, Brazil, and China are the top three iron ore-producing countries in 2023-2024, while many other countries contribute to world output. Over the past few years, as the world has coped with the economic uncertainties surrounding COVID-19 lockdowns, the Russia-Ukraine war, and rising levels of inflation, iron ore prices have shown instability.

The basic metal’s price dropped quickly to a low of US$84.50 in November 2021 after hitting a record high of almost US$220 per metric ton (MT) in May of the same year. Experts at the time concluded that the sharp decline in prices in late 2021 was caused by a combination of increased supply and decreased demand from China.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict, shortages of supply in Australia and Brazil, increased export taxes in India, and resurgent demand from China have all contributed to the iron ore price rebound, which is expected to trade in the US$120–US$130 range in 2024. It is expected that the iron ore market will remain upbeat until next year.

List Of Top 10 Iron Ore-Producing Countries In 2024

Over the past few years, as the world has coped with the economic uncertainties surrounding COVID-19 lockdowns, the Russia-Ukraine war, and rising levels of inflation, iron ore prices have shown instability. The basic metals price dropped quickly to a low of US$84.50 in November 2021 after hitting a record high of almost US$220 per metric ton in May of the same year. Experts say the time concluded that the sharp decline in prices in late. The following table lists the top 10 iron-producing countries of 2024 along with their contributions to global iron ore production:

Rank	Country	Production (Million Tonnes, 2022)	Iron Content (Million Tonnes)	Major Companies	Export Status
1	Australia	880	540	BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals Group	Largest exporter
2	Brazil	310	170	Vale S.A., CSN Mineração, Anglo American	Significant exporter
3	China	810	440	China Baowu Steel Group, Angang Group, Shougang Group	Net importer
4	India	250	140	SAIL, NMDC, RINL	Major exporter
5	Russia	100	55	Severstal, NLMK, EVRAZ	Major exporter
6	South Africa	75	40	Kumba Iron Ore, Exxaro Resources, Assmang	Major exporter
7	Ukraine	70	38	Metinvest, Ferrexpo, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih	Major exporter
8	United States	65	35	Cleveland-Cliffs, U.S. Steel, Vale North America	Major exporter
9	Canada	60	33	Rio Tinto, Vale Canada, Teck Resources	Major exporter
10	Iran	55	30	Ferrexportan, Chadormalu Mining & Industrial Company, Gol-e-Gohar	Major exporter

Australia – Top 10 Iron Ore-Producing Country In the World

The largest iron ore-producing country is Australia, which produced 880 million MT of useable iron ore in 2022 with iron content of 540 million MT. BHP is the largest producer of iron ore in Australia. Other major producers are Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group.

• The Pilbara area of Western Australia is the primary source of the state’s iron ore manufacturing.
• However, there are also other mines in the Wheatbelt, Kimberley, and Midwest regions.
• 90% of the state’s iron ore production in 2023–2024 came from the two largest producers, Rio Tinto and BHP, with Fortescue Metals Group coming in third.
• In Western Australia, Rio Tinto runs twelve iron ore mines, including two at Fortescue and seven at BHP, all of which are in the Pilbara region.
• Iron ore is carried from Port Hedland, Dampier, and Cape Lambert to the Pilbara. While BHP, FMG, and Atlas Iron use Port Hedland, Rio Tinto is the only user of the last two ports.

Information	Details
Rank	1st globally
Production (2023)	880 million tonnes (usable iron ore)
Iron Content	540 million tonnes
Major Companies	BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals Group
Export Share	Largest global exporter of iron ore
Key Regions	Western Australia (majority), South Australia, New South Wales, and Tasmania
Economic Impact	Significant contributor to Australian economy, generating jobs and revenue
Environmental Impact	Mining activities present environmental challenges, including dust generation, water usage, and potential impact on ecosystems
Sustainability Efforts	Growing focus on minimizing environmental impact through technological advancements and responsible mining practices

Brazil – Top 10 Iron Ore-Producing Country In the World

Brazil is the second largest producer of iron ore, which produced 410 million MT of useable iron ore in 2022 with iron content of 260 million MT. The states of Para and Minas Gerais, which together produce 98 percent of Brazil’s yearly iron ore output, are the major iron ore areas in the country.

• The Carajas mine operated by Vale, the biggest iron ore mine globally, is located in Para, Brazil.
• Vale, with its headquarters located in Rio de Janeiro, is the largest manufacturer of iron ore pellets globally. Exports of iron ore from Brazil are increasing in 2023.
• Anglo-American, Arcelormittal, Vale, and Companhia Siderurgica Nacional are the top producers of iron ore in Brazil.
• In the fiscal year 2020–2021, Anglo-American’s output climbed by 5%, Companhia Siderurgica National’s by 18%, and Vale’s by 5%.
• Brazil’s output is expected to increase in the year 2023. According to David Cachot, research director for steel and raw materials at Wood Mackenzie, Brazil, and India are expected to dominate the global supply in 2023, with Australian shipments remaining mostly range bound.

Information	Details
Rank	2nd globally
Production (2023)	410 million tonnes (usable iron ore)
Iron Content	260 million tonnes
Major Companies	Vale S.A., CSN Mineração, Anglo American
Export Share	Significant global iron ore exporter
Key Regions	Minas Gerais, Pará, and Mato Grosso
Economic Impact	Major contributor to Brazilian economy, generating jobs and revenue
Environmental Impact	Mining activities pose environmental challenges, including deforestation, water pollution, and social impacts on local communities
Sustainability Efforts	Growing focus on minimizing environmental impact through technological advancements, responsible mining practices, and community engagement

China – Top 10 Iron Ore-Producing Country In The World

China is the third largest producer of iron ore, which produced 380 million MT of useable iron ore in 2022 with iron content of 240 million MT. Despite being the third-largest producer of iron, China is the world’s largest user of iron ore. In comparison to the previous years, its production of useable ore decreased by 14 million MT in 2022.

• China is the world’s biggest producer of stainless steel, but the country’s domestic output cannot keep up with demand.
• More than 70% of the iron ore transported by sea is imported into the country.
• Economists predicted that iron ore prices would fall to $90-100/t in 2023. This is because Chinese steelmakers are not in high demand because of the state of the construction industry.
• Iron ore prices for the second half of 2023 have been lowered by 12%, according to Goldman Sachs, to $90/t.
• The ING company’s analysts estimate that the price of this raw material is expected to reach $105/t in the third quarter and $100/t in the fourth.

Information	Details
Rank	3rd globally
Production (2023)	380 million tonnes (usable iron ore)
Iron Content	240 million tonnes
Major Companies	China Baowu Steel Group, Angang Group, Shougang Group
Export Share	Net iron ore importer
Key Regions	Hebei, Liaoning, Shandong, and Shanxi
Economic Impact	Significant contributor to Chinese economy, supplying domestic steel industry
Environmental Impact	Mining activities pose environmental challenges, including air and water pollution, and land degradation
Sustainability Efforts	Growing focus on cleaner production technologies, mine reclamation, and environmental regulations

India – Top 10 Iron Ore-Producing Country In The World

India is the fourth largest producer of iron ore, which produced 290 million MT of useable iron ore in 2022 with iron content of 180 million MT. India produced more useable iron ore in 2022 than in 2021, reaching 290 million MT from 273 million MT the year before. It produced 180 million MT of iron content, up from 168 million MT previously.

• The biggest iron ore miner in India, NMDC, became the first in the country to reach a production milestone in 2021 when it reached 40 million MT annually.
• By 2023, NMDC hopes to reach a 50 million MT annual production rate; by 2030, it hopes to reach 100 million MT.
• The largest producer of iron ore, the state of Odisha, is predicted to produce 155–160 million tonnes of raw material in the 2023–2024 fiscal year, up from 140 million tonnes in the year prior.
• From 38 million tons in the 2022–2023 fiscal year, the state of Karnataka can raise its production of iron ore to 40–45 million tons in the present fiscal year.
• There will be more profits in the region because the country’s Supreme Court relaxed sales rules and removed export limitations. A hybrid mechanism that combines direct sales and auctions is being used by many market participants.

Information	Details
Rank	4th globally
Production (2023)	290 million tonnes (usable iron ore)
Iron Content	180 million tonnes
Major Companies	SAIL (Steel Authority of India Limited), NMDC (National Mineral Development Corporation), RINL (Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited), Tata Steel, JSW Steel
Export Share	Significant exporter of iron ore
Leading States	Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka
Economic Impact	Contributes to GDP, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings
Environmental Impact	Mining activities raise concerns about deforestation, land degradation, and air and water pollution
Sustainability Efforts	Increasing focus on responsible mining, reclamation, afforestation, and community development initiatives

Russia – Top 10 Iron Ore-Producing Country In The World

Russia ranks as the world’s fifth-largest producer of iron, which produced 93 million MT of useable iron ore in 2022 with iron content of 63 million MT. In 2022, the production of usable iron ore decreased by 6 million MT compared to the previous year, while the iron content decreased slightly from 66.7 million MT to 63 million MT.

• Due to the world’s harsh economic sanctions imposed on Russia as a result of its aggressive conflict against Ukraine, the country’s exports of iron ore decreased sharply in 2022.
• Together, Russia and Ukraine export 36% of the world’s iron or non-alloy steel. Russian iron ore imports are limited by the European Union.
• Russian manufacturers are attempting to boost supplies to China in response to a decline in exports of iron ore to the European Union. Up to 1.5 million tons, Russian pellet exports to China tripled year over year in 2022.
• Iron ore concentrate shipments were down 2.5% year over year to 7.8 million tons. The Russians anticipate that China will receive more iron ore in 2023.
• The third, fourth, and eighth sanctions packages, introduced in February, March, and October of 2022, provide restrictions on the Russian steel industry. The European Union has prohibited the import and sale of semi-finished goods with HS codes 72–73 and finished steel products of Russian origin, except ferroalloys, pig iron, and scrap iron ore.

Information	Details
Rank	5th globally
Production (2023)	93 million tonnes (usable iron ore)
Iron Content	63 million tonnes
Major Companies	Metalloinvest (Lebedinsky GOK, Mikhailovsky GOK), Severstal, NLMK, EVRAZ
Export Share	Major exporter of iron ore
Leading Regions	Kursk Oblast, Belgorod Oblast, Karelia
Economic Impact	Important contributor to the Russian economy, providing jobs and revenue
Environmental Impact	Mining activities raise concerns about land use, water resources, and potential pollution
Sustainability Efforts	Some focus on improving environmental performance, but information on specific initiatives may be less readily available due to current geopolitical context

Ukraine – Top 10 Iron Ore-Producing Country In The World

Ukraine ranks as the world’s sixth-largest producer of iron, which produced 76 million MT of useable iron ore in 2022 with iron content of 47 million MT. Approximately 10% of the GDP of Ukraine is generated by the iron ore and steel sectors.

• The European Union’s steel sector depends on Ukraine’s exports of iron ore, and these shipments are being seriously impacted by Russia’s invasion.
• Ukraine served as a major supplier of iron ore and metallurgic coal to many European steel manufacturers.
• Iron ore is a significant export for Ferrexpo, the Ukrainian miner listed on the London Stock Exchange, according to a Financial Times article from mid-2022.
• In 2022, Ukraine’s output decreased by over 9% compared to the previous year.
• 30.6% of all Ukrainian ore was utilized by Slovakia between January and July of 2023. Poland is in third place with 19.6%, followed by the Czech Republic in second place with 23.7%.

Information	Details
Rank	6th globally
Production (2022)	76 million tonnes (usable iron ore)
Iron Content	47 million tonnes
Major Companies	Metinvest, Ferrexpo, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih
Export Share	Traditionally a major exporter, particularly to Europe
Key Regions	Kryvyi Rih Basin (Dnipropetrovsk Oblast)
Economic Impact	Iron ore and steel sectors generate significant revenue
War Impact	Production and exports have been severely disrupted due to the Russian invasion, with mining operations and infrastructure damaged
Future Outlook	Recovery likely post-war, but uncertainties remain regarding production capacity and logistical challenges

South Africa – Top 10 Iron Ore-Producing Country In The World

South Africa ranks as the world’s seventh-largest producer of iron, which produced 75.9 million MT of useable iron ore in 2022 with iron content of 48 million MT. In 2022, South Africa produced 76 million MT of useable iron ore, up from 73.1 million MT in the previous year. Additionally, the amount of iron ore in the country has increased from 46.5 million MT to 48 million MT.

• The biggest producer of iron ore in Africa is Kumba Iron Ore.
• The bulk of Kemba’s iron ore output comes from its flagship mine, Sishen.
• Sishen is one of the company’s three primary iron ore production assets in the country. Anglo American holds a 69.7% stake in the business.
• With Australia, Brazil, India, and China being the top producers, South Africa makes up just 3% of the world’s total iron-ore production.
• Iron ore exports from South Africa fell by 0.44% in 2022 compared to 2021, with China receiving the majority of these exports. Between 2022 and 2026, South Africa’s iron ore exports are predicted to increase at a CAGR of 3%.

Information	Details
Rank	7th globally
Production (2022)	75.9 million tonnes (usable iron ore)
Iron Content	48 million tonnes
Major Companies	Kumba Iron Ore, Exxaro Resources, Assmang
Export Share	Major exporter of iron ore
Key Regions	Northern Cape Province (Sishen, Kalahari)
Economic Impact	Significant contributor to GDP, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings
Environmental Impact	Mining activities raise concerns about dust generation, water pollution, and land degradation
Sustainability Efforts	Growing focus on responsible mining practices, mine reclamation, and community development projects

Iran – Top 10 Iron Ore-Producing Country In The World

Iran ranks as the world’s eighth-largest producer of iron, which produced 75 million MT of useable iron ore in 2022 with iron content of 49 million MT. Iran is now the eighth-largest producer of iron, having risen from 10th place the year before. It produced 49 million MT of iron content and 75 million MT of useable iron ore in 2022, up from 72.9 million MT and 47.9 million MT, respectively, in the previous year.

• Gol-e-Gohar, located in the Kerman province, is one of the most significant iron ore mines in this country.
• By 2025 or 2026, the Iranian government hopes to have produced 55 million metric tons of steel annually.
• The country’s iron ore sector must generate 160 million MT of iron ore to meet this target.
• In September 2019, Iran implemented a 25 percent tariff on iron ore exports in order to better satisfy the demands of its own steel manufacturers.
• Iran’s iron ore exports rose by 3% in 2022 compared to 2021, with China receiving the largest proportion of these exports. Between 2022 and 2026, Iran’s iron ore exports are predicted to increase at a CAGR of 0.26%.

Information	Details
Rank	8th globally
Production (2023)	75 million tonnes (usable iron ore)
Iron Content	49 million tonnes
Major Companies	Gol-e-Gohar, Chadormalu Mining & Industrial Company, Central Iranian Iron Ore Company (CIOC)
Export Share	Major exporter of iron ore, primarily to China
Key Regions	Kerman, Yazd, Khorasan Razavi
Economic Impact	Contributes to GDP, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings
Environmental Impact	Mining activities raise concerns about water usage in arid regions, dust generation, and potential ecosystem impacts
Sustainability Efforts	Information on sustainability initiatives within the Iranian iron ore industry is less readily available compared to other major producers

Kazakhstan – Top 10 Iron Ore-Producing Country In The World

Kazakhstan ranks as the world’s ninth-largest producer of iron, which produced 66 million MT of useable iron ore in 2022 with iron content of 14 million MT. Kazakhstan ranks ninth globally in terms of iron production. Iron content increased marginally from 13.1 million MT to 14 million MT, while usable iron ore production increased marginally from 64.1 million MT in 2022 to a record 66 million MT.

• ArcelorMittal owns one of the five iron ore mines in Kazakhstan.
• While Eurasian Resources Group owns four of the country’s operational mines.
• Before Russia invaded Ukraine, the main source of iron ore for Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel works in Russia was the Sokolov-Sarybai Mining Production Association (SMPA) in Northern Kazakhstan.
• The SMPA stopped shipping iron ore to Magnitogorsk after that.
• Eurasian Resources Group owns the surface mine, Korzhinkolskoye Mine, which is situated in Kostanay. An estimated 2.01 million tonnes of iron ore were produced by the mine in 2022.

Information	Details
Rank	9th globally
Production (2022)	66 million tonnes (usable iron ore)
Iron Content (2022)	14 million tonnes
Major Companies	Eurasian Resources Group, ArcelorMittal
Export Status	Primarily exports to neighboring countries
Leading Regions	Kostanay, Karaganda
Economic Impact	Contributes to regional development and job creation
Environmental Impact	Mining activities pose environmental concerns, requiring responsible management practices

Canada – Top 10 Iron Ore-Producing Country In The World

Canada ranks as the world’s tenth-largest producer of iron, which produced 58 million MT of useable iron ore in 2022 with iron content of 35 million MT. Canada, the world’s tenth-largest producer of iron, produced 35 million MT of iron content and 58 million MT of useable iron ore in 2022, slightly more than the 34.5 million MT and 57.5 million MT produced in 2021.

• Iron ore is produced in the country by companies like Champion Iron
• It is the owner and manager of Quebec’s Bloom Lake facility.
• Champion transports iron concentrate by rail to a ship loading port in Sept-Iles, Quebec, originally via the Bloom Lake Railway from the open pit at Bloom Lake.
• The capacity of a Phase 2 expansion of 66.2 percent iron ore concentrate increased from 7.4 million MT annually to 15 million MT annually when commercial production began in December 2022.
• The Mary River Project (ArcelorMittal), a surface mine in Nunavut, is owned by Nunavut Iron Ore Acquisition. In 2022, it was expected to produce 4.5 million tonnes of iron ore. Mine operations will continue until 2043.

Information	Details
Rank (2022)	10th globally
Production (Million Tonnes, 2022)	58 million tonnes (usable iron ore)
Iron Content (Million Tonnes, 2022)	35 million tonnes
Major Companies	Rio Tinto, Vale Canada, Teck Resources
Export Share	Major exporter
Leading Provinces	Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut
Economic Impact	Contributes to regional economies through job creation and government revenue
Environmental Impact	Mining activities raise concerns about dust generation, water usage, and potential impact on ecosystems
Sustainability Efforts	Growing focus on minimizing environmental impact through technological advancements, responsible mining practices, and community engagement

Conclusion

The top 10 iron ore producing countries globally are Australia, Brazil, China, India, Russia, Ukraine, South Africa, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Canada. Australia produced 880 million Metric Tonnes of useable iron ore in 2022, followed by Brazil and China with 410 million MT and 380 million MT respectively. The US Geological Survey data shows Australia, Brazil, and China are the top three producers in 2022-2023. Iron ore prices have shown instability due to economic uncertainties, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, supply shortages, increased export taxes, and resurgent demand from China.

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Iron-Ore Producing Countries Of The World – FAQs

Which Country Is The Largest Producer Of Iron Ore In The World?

Australia is the largest producer of iron ore in the world.

What Are The Top 3 Countries With Iron?

The top 3 countries in iron ore production are:

• Australia
• China
• Brazil

Who Is The World’s Largest Exporter Of Iron Ore?

Australia is also the world’s largest exporter of iron ore.

Which Country In Asia Produces The Most Iron Ore?

China is the largest producer of iron ore in Asia.

What Are The 4 types Of Iron Ore?

There are several ways to classify iron ore, but some of the common types include:

• Hematite
• Magnetite
• Limonite
• Siderite

Which State Of India Is Rich In Iron Ore?

Odisha is the leading producer of iron ore in India.

Which Region Of India Is Rich In Iron Ore?

Eastern India, particularly the states of Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka, are rich in iron ore deposits.