Iron Ore rose to 106.94 USD/T on December 1, 2025, up 2.00% from the previous day. Over the past month, Iron Ore's price has risen 1.04%, and is up 1.54% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Iron Ore - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on December of 2025.

Monthly and long-term iron ore price data (US$/mt): historical series and analyst forecasts curated by FocusEconomics.

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Iron Ore Market Size 2025-2029

The iron ore market size is valued to increase USD 60.9 billion, at a CAGR of 3.3% from 2024 to 2029. Upsurge in the consumption of high-strength iron ore and steel will drive the iron ore market.

Major Market Trends & Insights

APAC dominated the market and accounted for a 89% growth during the forecast period.
By Product - Fines segment was valued at USD 165.60 billion in 2023
By Source - Surface mining segment accounted for the largest market revenue share in 2023

Market Size & Forecast

Market Opportunities: USD 29.20 billion
Market Future Opportunities: USD 60.90 billion
CAGR from 2024 to 2029 : 3.3%

Market Summary

Amidst the global economic recovery, the market experiences a significant surge in demand, driven primarily by the consumption of high-strength iron ore in the production of steel. This trend is particularly pronounced in emerging economies like China and India, where economic growth continues to fuel the demand for stainless steel. The market, a high capital investment sector, is expected to maintain its momentum, with industry analysts projecting a value of USD 150 billion by 2025. Despite challenges such as environmental concerns and supply chain disruptions, the market's resilience is evident, underpinned by the indispensable role of iron ore in infrastructure development and industrial growth.
The market's evolution reflects the interconnectedness of global economies and the ongoing quest for sustainable, high-performance materials.

What will be the Size of the Iron Ore Market during the forecast period?

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How is the Iron Ore Market Segmented ?

The iron ore industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD billion' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments.

Product

  Fines
  Pellets
  Lump
  HBI/DRI


Source

  Surface mining
  Underground mining


End-use

  Steel Manufacturers
  Construction Industry
  Automotive Industry


Application

  Steelmaking
  Construction
  Automotive
  Others
  Non-Steel Applications


Production Process

  Blast Furnace (BF)
  Direct Reduced Iron (DRI)


Geography

  North America

    US
    Canada


  Europe

    France
    Germany
    Italy
    UK


  Middle East and Africa

    Egypt
    KSA
    Oman
    UAE


  APAC

    China
    India
    Japan


  South America

    Argentina
    Brazil


  Rest of World (ROW)

By Product Insights

The fines segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

In the dynamic and complex realm of the market, this essential steelmaking raw material undergoes continuous exploration and production using various methods. Mining techniques span open-pit and underground operations, with geophysical survey data informing the discovery of new mineral resources. Exploration relies on advanced drilling methods, while geological modeling and mineral resource assessment aid in ore grade estimation and mine planning. The ironmaking process is optimized through the application of innovative techniques, such as sintering process optimization and iron ore pelletization. In the sintering process, fine iron ore fines are blended with coke breeze, limestone, and recycled sinter particles, creating a porous, cohesive mass.

This sinter is then fed into the blast furnace, enhancing the efficiency of the ironmaking process. Environmental considerations are paramount in modern mining operations. Mine water management and dust suppression systems are crucial for minimizing environmental impact. Additionally, production cost analysis and mine waste management are essential for maintaining profitability and sustainability. The iron ore characterization and beneficiation processes employ magnetic separation methods and flotation cell design to improve ore quality. These techniques ensure the removal of impurities and the concentration of valuable iron ore particles, contributing to the overall efficiency of the mining and production process. As the industry evolves, mine safety regulations and transportation logistics continue to be critical factors in the success of iron ore mining operations.

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The Fines segment was valued at USD 165.60 billion in 2019 and showed a gradual increase during the forecast period.

The integration of advanced technologies, such as particle size distribution analysis and blast furnace operation optimization, further enhances the productivity and profitability of these ventures. A single data point illustrates the significance of fine iron ore in the industry: the global market for iron ore fines is projected to reach a value of USD120 billion by 2027, underscoring their importance as a key component in the

Get the latest insights on price movement and trend analysis of Iron Ore in different regions across the world (Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East Africa).

Iron Ore CNY rose to 794 CNY/T on November 28, 2025, up 0.70% from the previous day. Over the past month, Iron Ore CNY's price has fallen 1.31%, but it is still 0.13% higher than a year ago, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Iron Ore CNY.

The Canadian iron ore market shrank significantly to $532M in 2024, which is down by -32.3% against the previous year. Overall, consumption recorded a deep contraction. As a result, consumption reached the peak level of $1.4B. From 2022 to 2024, the growth of the market remained at a lower figure.

The global iron ore market size was USD 297.82 billion in 2024 & is projected to grow from USD 302.38 billion in 2025 to USD 392.11 billion by 2032.
Report Scope:

The iron ore market size was USD 350.0 billion in 2025, which is predicted to reach USD 452.2 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4% during 2026-2032.

In 2019, the global iron ore market increased by X% to $X, rising for the third consecutive year after three years of decline. In general, the total consumption indicated a pronounced increase from 2007 to 2019: its value increased at an average annual rate of +X% over the last twelve years. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2019 figures, consumption increased by +X% against 2016 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2011 with an increase of X% year-to-year. Global consumption peaked at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2019, consumption remained at a lower figure.

This statistic depicts the average annual prices for iron ore from 2014 through 2024, with forecasted figures for 2024 to 2026. In 2024, the average price for iron ore stood at 109.4 nominal U.S. dollars per dry metric ton.

The Iron Ore Marketsize was valued at USD 279.35 Kiloton in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 372.58 Kiloton by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.2 % during the forecast period. Recent developments include: October 2023: Rio Tinto announced plans to increase its Gudai-Darri iron ore mine production capacity to 50 million tons per year. The capacity increase would be achieved through upgrades, including improvements to conveyor belts and chutes, as well as utilization of an existing crushing and screening facility on site., February 2023: Fortescue Metals Group Ltd., through its incorporated joint venture company Ivindo Iron SA (Ivindo Iron), signed the Mining Convention for the Belinga Iron Ore Project (Belinga Project) in Gabon with the Gabonese Republic. This agreement opened growth opportunities for Fortescue Metals and Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) throughout Africa., June 2022: Rio Tinto and the Salzgitter Group signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) to work together toward carbon-free steelmaking. They are studying the optimization of Rio Tinto’s high-quality Australian and Canadian iron ore products for use in Salzgitter’s SALCOS green steel project in Germany. Under the MOU, the company would explore the potential for iron ore pellets, fines, and lumps in hydrogen direct reduction steelmaking. The two companies also explored the potential for greenhouse gas emission certification across the steel value chain.. Key drivers for this market are: Global Urbanization and Industrialization to Encourage Market Growth. Potential restraints include: Technological Shifts and Availability of Alternative Methods to Hamper Market Growth . Notable trends are: Growing Government Infrastructure Projects in Developing Regions to Provide Beneficial Market Opportunities.

Iron ore miners have faced difficult trading conditions because of easing iron ore prices over the past few years, despite the nation maintaining its status as the world's largest iron ore supplier and benefiting from proximity to Asian markets. However, modest growth in production volumes has partly offset revenue declines. Industry revenue is expected to have sunk at an annualised 1.7% over the five years through 2024-25, to $131.5 billion. Easing iron ore prices, driven primarily by a slowdown in China's construction sector and soaring supply, are weighing on iron ore miners' revenue and export values. Despite an economic stimulus from the Chinese government aimed at its property sector, iron ore prices are poised to remain low throughout 2024-25, prompting an anticipated revenue slump of 18.0% over the year. Iron ore prices remained volatile in the first half of 2025, with sweeping US tariffs initially weakening market sentiment and pushing prices down. The following scaling back of these tariffs helped fuel a partial recovery in iron ore prices. The industry’s profitability has eroded over recent years – including an expected drop in 2024-25 – because of lower prices and soaring input costs. Australia's domestic iron ore production has grown from 911.1 million tonnes in 2019-20 to an estimated 968.7 million tonnes in 2024-25. Expansion plans and investments by prominent producers like BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue in projects like the South Flank, Gudai-Darri and Iron Bridge operations have fuelled this growth. Rising input expenses, attributable to inflation and labour shortages, along with weak iron ore prices, are forcing producers to undertake aggressive cost-slashing measures, prompting market leaders to undertake job cuts and maintain lean operations. Operating at a lower end of the cost curve will be crucial for Australian iron ore miners to ride out market volatility over the coming years. While Australia is on track to ramp up production to over 1.0 billion tonnes by 2026-27, iron ore prices are projected to fall over the five years through 2029-30 because of surging supply from producers in Australia and Brazil and new mines like the Simandou project. Iron ore miners' revenue is forecast to contract at an annualised 3.9% over the five years through 2029-30, to $107.8 billion. Major companies are set to continue dominating the iron ore mining sector due to several expansion projects. The industry focus will likely shift towards emerging opportunities in the green iron and steel market, spurred by initiatives like the $1.0 billion Green Iron Investment Fund.

The size of the Iron Ore Market was valued at USD 278.44 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 306.90 billion by 2032, with an expected CAGR of 1.4 % during the forecast period. Recent developments include: In April 2024, Australia-based Strike Resources Limited, an iron ore company, completed its negotiations to sell its Pilbara Paulsens East Iron Ore Project to Australia-based Miracle Iron Holdings for ~USD 13.4 million (A$ 20.5 million). .

In May 2024, iron ore was valued at approximately *** U.S. dollars per dry metric ton unit (dmtu), as compared to *** U.S. dollars per dmtu in the same month of the previous year. Iron ore prices and production Iron ore refers to the minerals and rocks from which metallic iron is economically viable to extract. Pig iron, which is one of the raw materials used in steel production, is derived from iron ore. The price of iron ore has fluctuated a great deal over the last twenty years. In 2003, one dmtu of iron ore cost ** U.S. dollars, and increased to a high of *** U.S. dollars per dmtu in 2011. The price saw dramatic drops in the past decade, from ****** U.S. dollars per dry metric ton unit in March 2013 to ***** U.S. dollars per dmtu in December 2015. Since then, the price has increased gradually to ****** U.S. dollars per dmtu as of July 2021, before dropping sharply in August 2021. Iron ore producers Overall, the global production of iron ore did not decrease when the prices dropped. In fact, an increase in production among several of the world's largest iron ore producing countries was observed in the past five years. Australia produced *** million metric tons of iron ore in 2023. China is also among the world's largest iron ore producers, though its production is calculated differently than in other countries. Based primarily on the production of raw ore rather than usable ore, China produced an estimated *** million metric tons in 2023.

The magnetite iron ore market revenue growth is primarily driven by factors such as the quality of iron contain and the low carbon emission as well as low production costs

Explore the complexities of predicting iron ore prices influenced by demand-supply dynamics, geopolitical tensions, economic trends, and technological shifts. Understand the impact of global events and regional demand from China and India on future market trajectories.

Brazil Iron Ore market is forecast to grow over the years due to the growing need for steel and increasing iron ore prices and the environmental regulations.

Discover the latest insights into the booming iron ore market, projected to surpass $300 billion by 2033. This comprehensive analysis covers market size, growth drivers, regional trends, key players (Vale, Rio Tinto, BHP), and future forecasts. Learn about the impact of steel production, chemical industry demand, and sustainability concerns on this vital commodity.

Iron Ore Market size was valued at USD 339.79 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 420.59 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 2.59 % during the forecasted period 2024 to 2030.

Global Iron Ore Market Drivers

The market drivers for the Iron Ore Market can be influenced by various factors. These may include:

Industrial Production and Infrastructure Development: Steel, a vital component of many sectors like construction, automotive, machinery, and infrastructure, is made from iron ore, a crucial raw material. Thus, the degree of infrastructural development and industrial activity has a big impact on the demand for iron ore, especially in growing economies like China and India.

Steel Production and Consumption: Global trends in steel production and consumption are intimately related to the demand for iron ore. The demand for steel is mostly driven by urbanisation, economic expansion, and construction activity. This, in turn, affects the demand for iron ore.

Global Economic Conditions: The demand for steel and, by extension, iron ore, is directly impacted by economic factors such as GDP growth rates, industrial output, and consumer expenditure. Economic downturns may cause a decline in the demand for steel and iron ore as well as a reduction in industrial activity.

Chinese Steel Industry Dynamics: China makes up a sizable amount of the world's demand for iron ore, making it the country that consumes the most of the resource worldwide. As a result, the iron ore market is greatly impacted by the laws, rules, and economic developments in China's steel sector as well as by the government's intentions for infrastructure spending.

Supply-Side Factors: Production disruptions (like mine closures, labour strikes, or unfavourable weather), adjustments to production capacity, technological advancements in mining methods, and exploration efforts that uncover new ore deposits are some of the factors that impact the supply of iron ore.

Iron ore prices in June 2025 saw fluctuations with September futures on the DCE slightly decreasing, while July contracts on the Singapore Exchange faced more pressure. Despite weak Chinese demand, market stability signs and potential seasonal recovery were observed.