Iron Ore
The primary raw material for steel production. Steel is foundational to construction, manufacturing, transportation infrastructure, and industrial machinery.
Where Iron Ore sits among tracked minerals
Share of global output from the #1 producing country, across all 20 minerals PlainCountries tracks
36.9% 14th of 20 higher than 6 of 20 tracked minerals
Top-producer share of global output, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more tracked minerals. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024 · 2023 data year
Global Production Overview
Production by Country (2023)
| Rank | Country | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 36.9% |
| 2 | Brazil | 16.9% |
| 3 | China | 14.2% |
| 4 | India | 10.4% |
| 5 | Russia | 3.8% |
| 6 | South Africa | 2.7% |
| 7 | Canada | 2.2% |
| 8 | United States | 1.7% |
| 9 | Sweden | 1.5% |
| 10 | Ukraine | 2.1% |
Click a country name to view its full profile. Production share percentages are calculated from USGS estimated global production.
Nearby Industrial Minerals by leader share
Chromium
Bauxite (Aluminum)
Molybdenum
Next read: Chromium · All minerals
Where Iron Ore sits on supply concentration
Iron Ore is mid-pack on supply concentration here, per the figures above. Iron Ore is an industrial-mineral row: buyers in import-dependent countries still watch supplier concentration even when the commodity rarely headlines. The primary raw material for steel production. Steel is foundational to construction, manufacturing, transportation infrastructure, and industrial machinery. 2023 global mine production ≈ 2600.0 Mt.
USGS does not publish a single net-import-reliance percentage for Iron Ore in this release; use the country production table and the linked country profiles for exposure context. Top-five share is 82% (Australia, Brazil, China, India, Russia). Mid-concentration minerals are where #2/#3 shares still matter for scenario work.
Closest same-category neighbour by leader share: Chromium. Figures are USGS estimates for 2023 from the 2024 Mineral Commodity Summaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country produces the most Iron Ore?
Australia is the world's leading producer of Iron Ore, accounting for approximately 37% of global mine production in 2023.
How is Iron Ore used?
The primary raw material for steel production. Steel is foundational to construction, manufacturing, transportation infrastructure, and industrial machinery.
What is global Iron Ore production?
Global mine production of Iron Ore was approximately 2600.0 Mt in 2023, measured in million metric tons.
How reliant is the US on imported Iron Ore?
US import reliance data for Iron Ore is not published as a single percentage in this release. Refer to the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries for current estimates.
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024 (U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center). Source: USGS National Minerals Information Center, data year 2023. Values are USGS estimates and may include revisions. US import reliance data from USGS.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.