Imagine a single commodity so vast that the planet holds nearly 200 billion tonnes in reserve, a foundation upon which Australia, Brazil, and Russia have built their economic might and upon which China's industrial engine absolutely depends.
Key Takeaways
- Global iron ore reserves were estimated at 190 billion tonnes as of 2022, with Australia holding the largest share at 51 billion tonnes.
- Brazil's iron ore reserves stood at 34 billion tonnes in 2022, accounting for about 18% of the world's total.
- Russia possesses 25 billion tonnes of iron ore reserves, representing roughly 13% of global reserves in 2022.
- World iron ore mine production reached 2.6 billion tonnes in 2022.
- Australia produced 900 million tonnes of iron ore in 2022, 35% of global output.
- Brazil's iron ore production was 410 million tonnes in 2022, 16% worldwide.
- Global seaborne iron ore trade volume hit 1.49 billion tonnes in 2022.
- China imported 1.116 billion tonnes of iron ore in 2022, 75% of global seaborne trade.
- Australia's iron ore exports to China were 817 million tonnes in 2022.
- Iron ore price CFR China 62% Fe averaged $121/tonne in 2022.
- Platts IODEX 62% Fe index peaked at $226/tonne in June 2021 but averaged $120 in 2022.
- Brazil 65% Fe premium over 62% averaged $25/tonne in 2022.
- Global iron ore use in steelmaking is 98% of total consumption.
- Blast furnace route consumes 1.6 tonnes iron ore per tonne hot metal.
- Direct reduced iron (DRI) uses 1.4 tonnes ore pellets per tonne sponge iron.
Australia holds the most iron ore reserves, with production and prices shaping global markets.
Global Trade and Consumption
- Global seaborne iron ore trade volume hit 1.49 billion tonnes in 2022.
- China imported 1.116 billion tonnes of iron ore in 2022, 75% of global seaborne trade.
- Australia's iron ore exports to China were 817 million tonnes in 2022.
- Brazil exported 354 million tonnes of iron ore in 2022, mainly fines.
- India imported 12 million tonnes but exported 26 million tonnes net in 2022.
- Japan's iron ore imports totaled 117 million tonnes in 2022.
- South Korea consumed 70 million tonnes via imports in 2022.
- Europe's apparent steel use drove 220 million tonnes iron ore demand in 2022.
- China's domestic consumption of iron ore reached 1.25 billion tonnes in 2022.
- Global pig iron production consumed 1.3 billion tonnes iron ore equivalent in 2022.
- Vale's seaborne iron ore sales were 226 million tonnes in 2022.
- BHP shipped 278 million tonnes iron ore internationally in FY2022.
- Iron ore freight rates averaged $15/tonne on Capesize vessels Brazil-China in 2022.
- Pilbara blend fines exports averaged 900 Mt/year over 2020-2022.
- Global iron ore stockpile at Chinese ports peaked at 150 million tonnes in mid-2022.
- EU imported 110 million tonnes iron ore in 2022, down 5% YoY.
- Turkey's iron ore imports rose to 18 million tonnes in 2022.
- Vietnam imported 25 million tonnes for its growing steel industry in 2022.
- Australia's iron ore export value reached AUD 136 billion in 2022.
- Brazil-China iron ore trade volume was 300 million tonnes in 2022.
- Global DRI production used 120 million tonnes iron ore pellets in 2022.
- Iron ore consumption per tonne of crude steel averages 1.6 tonnes globally.
- China's iron ore import concentration: 60% from Australia, 20% Brazil in 2022.
- Seaborne iron ore trade grew 4% to 1.5 Bt in 2022 despite slowdowns.
Global Trade and Consumption Interpretation
The global iron ore trade is a colossal, China-centric conveyor belt where Australia is the indispensable quarry, Brazil is the crucial backup, and the rest of the world politely queues up for whatever steel-making crumbs are left.
Prices and Economics
- Iron ore price CFR China 62% Fe averaged $121/tonne in 2022.
- Platts IODEX 62% Fe index peaked at $226/tonne in June 2021 but averaged $120 in 2022.
- Brazil 65% Fe premium over 62% averaged $25/tonne in 2022.
- Pilbara Blend Fines (PBF) discount to 62% Fe was $2.5/tonne avg 2022.
- High-grade 65% Fe ore traded at $150/tonne average CFR China 2022.
- Iron ore futures on DCE averaged RMB 750/tonne ($110 USD) in 2022.
- Singapore Exchange iron ore swaps volume hit 1 million lots in 2022.
- Australian FOB Pilbara 62% Fe price averaged $105/tonne in 2022.
- Vale's Northern System fines sold at $110-130/tonne range 2022.
- Global iron ore market revenue estimated at $430 billion in 2022.
- EBITDA for top miners: BHP $29B, Rio $21B from iron ore in FY2022.
- Iron ore contributed 50% of Australia's mining export earnings in 2022.
- Chinese steel mill margins averaged $100/tonne profit impacting ore bids 2022.
- Low-grade 58% Fe Indian ore FOB price $80/tonne avg 2022.
- Pellet premium over fines reached $50/tonne peak in Q3 2022.
- Iron ore price volatility (30-day) averaged 25% annualized in 2022.
- Spot 62% Fe CFR China fell to $80/tonne low in November 2022.
- Brazil export parity pricing model yielded $15B revenue for Vale 2022.
- Global iron ore demand elasticity to steel prices is 0.8 in short term.
- Australian dollar weakened 10% vs USD boosting ore competitiveness 2022.
- Carbon emission costs added $5-10/tonne to low-grade ore in EU 2022.
- Iron ore swaps basis (Sep vs Oct) averaged -$2/tonne backwardation 2022.
- Top 4 miners controlled 60% market share by production value 2022.
- Benchmark iron ore contracts indexed to Platts IODEX rose 20% YTD early 2022.
Prices and Economics Interpretation
In a breathtakingly volatile market, 2022 saw iron ore prices settle into a tense equilibrium—averaging a telling $121/tonne—where the staggering profits of the few were bankrolled by the world's steel appetite, yet remained perpetually at the mercy of China's margins and Australia's currency.
Production Statistics
- World iron ore mine production reached 2.6 billion tonnes in 2022.
- Australia produced 900 million tonnes of iron ore in 2022, 35% of global output.
- Brazil's iron ore production was 410 million tonnes in 2022, 16% worldwide.
- China produced 280 million tonnes in 2022, though mostly for domestic use.
- India output stood at 280 million tonnes of iron ore in 2022.
- Russia's production reached 95 million tonnes in 2022.
- Ukraine produced 36 million tonnes despite conflict in 2022.
- South Africa mined 63 million tonnes of iron ore in 2022.
- Canada's production was 59 million tonnes in 2022.
- United States produced 44 million tonnes of usable iron ore in 2022.
- Kazakhstan output at 96 million tonnes in 2022.
- Iran's iron ore production was 50 million tonnes in 2022.
- Sweden produced 27 million tonnes in 2022.
- BHP's Western Australia operations produced 260 million tonnes in FY2022.
- Rio Tinto's Pilbara mines output 323 million tonnes in 2022.
- Vale's Carajás production was 193 million tonnes in 2022.
- Fortescue Metals Group produced 187 million tonnes from Pilbara in 2022.
- Anglo American Kumba Iron Ore produced 39.6 million tonnes in 2022.
- ArcelorMittal Liberia mine output 4.5 million tonnes in 2022.
- Global production growth was 1.5% in 2022 after 5% increase in 2021.
- Pilbara shires produced over 700 million tonnes collectively in 2022.
- China's Hebei province iron ore output 120 million tonnes in 2022.
- India's Odisha state led with 170 million tonnes production in FY2022.
- Russia's Kursk Magnetic Anomaly produced 45 million tonnes in 2022.
- LKAB Sweden's Kiruna and Malmberget mines output 26.6 million tonnes pellets in 2022.
- Global iron ore production capacity reached 2.8 billion tonnes per year in 2022.
- Australia exported 896 million tonnes of iron ore in 2022.
- World crude steel production, driving iron ore demand, was 1.88 billion tonnes in 2022.
Production Statistics Interpretation
In the grand, dusty poker game of global iron ore production, Australia is the unapologetic high roller with a 35% stake, while the rest of the world scrambles for chips to feed the steel-making furnace of modern civilization.
Reserves and Resources
- Global iron ore reserves were estimated at 190 billion tonnes as of 2022, with Australia holding the largest share at 51 billion tonnes.
- Brazil's iron ore reserves stood at 34 billion tonnes in 2022, accounting for about 18% of the world's total.
- Russia possesses 25 billion tonnes of iron ore reserves, representing roughly 13% of global reserves in 2022.
- China's iron ore reserves are estimated at 20 billion tonnes, or about 10.5% of the global total as of 2022.
- India holds 5.5 billion tonnes of iron ore reserves, making up approximately 2.9% worldwide in 2022.
- Ukraine's iron ore reserves are 6.5 billion tonnes, contributing 3.4% to global reserves in 2022.
- South Africa's reserves total 1.2 billion tonnes, or 0.6% of the world total in 2022.
- The United States has 3 billion tonnes of iron ore reserves, equating to 1.6% globally in 2022.
- Canada's iron ore reserves are 6 billion tonnes, about 3.2% of global reserves in 2022.
- Sweden's reserves stand at 3.5 billion tonnes, representing 1.8% of the world's iron ore in 2022.
- Kazakhstan has 12.5 billion tonnes of reserves, or 6.6% globally in 2022.
- Iran's iron ore reserves are 2.7 billion tonnes, 1.4% of total world reserves in 2022.
- Mauritania holds 1.7 billion tonnes, contributing 0.9% to global iron ore reserves in 2022.
- World iron ore resources (identified) exceed 800 billion tonnes, with potential for more undiscovered.
- Hematite is the most abundant iron ore mineral, comprising over 70% of high-grade ores globally.
- Magnetite reserves account for about 25% of global iron ore resources due to its magnetic properties.
- Goethite and limonite form low-grade ores, making up 30-40% of sedimentary iron deposits worldwide.
- Banded Iron Formations (BIFs) host 90% of world's iron ore reserves, mostly Precambrian age.
- Pilbara region in Australia contains 80% of its national reserves, over 48 billion tonnes recoverable.
- Carajás mine in Brazil has proven reserves of 7.2 billion tonnes at 66% Fe grade.
- Kiruna mine in Sweden holds 2.6 billion tonnes of magnetite ore reserves.
- Mesabi Range in USA has historical resources over 20 billion tonnes, though much depleted.
- Simandou deposit in Guinea boasts 2.4 billion tonnes of high-grade reserves at 65.5% Fe.
- Hamersley Province reserves average 62% Fe content, highest quality globally.
- Global iron ore endowment ratio (reserves/production) is about 40 years at current rates.
- Liberia's Nimba deposit has 1 billion tonnes reserves at 64-68% Fe.
- Ukraine's Kryvyi Rih basin holds 20 billion tonnes resources, 6.5 Bt reserves.
- Peru's iron ore resources estimated at 7.5 billion tonnes, mostly magnetite.
- Global high-grade iron ore (>62% Fe) reserves are concentrated in 5 countries holding 80%.
- Low-grade ores (<55% Fe) dominate 60% of untapped resources, needing beneficiation.
Reserves and Resources Interpretation
While we've found enough iron to keep building for decades, Mother Nature's pantry shows a stark, grade-conscious geography, with a handful of nations sitting on the premium cuts and the world facing a future of increasingly difficult-to-process leftovers.
Uses and Applications
- Global iron ore use in steelmaking is 98% of total consumption.
- Blast furnace route consumes 1.6 tonnes iron ore per tonne hot metal.
- Direct reduced iron (DRI) uses 1.4 tonnes ore pellets per tonne sponge iron.
- 70% of iron ore converted to sinter for blast furnace feed.
- Pellets account for 20% of global iron ore burden in BF/BOF.
- Lump ore usage in BF is 15-20% for permeability.
- High-grade ore (>65% Fe) reduces coke rate by 10-15 kg/t steel.
- Iron ore fines <6.3mm require agglomeration for 80% of production.
- Global production of iron ore pellets was 400 million tonnes in 2022.
- Steelmaking scrap substitutes 30% iron units, reducing ore need.
- Hematite direct shipping ore (DSO) used without beneficiation, 40% global trade.
- Magnetite concentrate used in 25% pellets for DRI processes.
- Iron ore in cement production as flux, 2-5% by weight.
- Automotive steel uses 50 kg iron ore equivalent per vehicle.
- Construction rebar requires 1.1 tonnes ore per tonne steel.
- Electrical steels from oriented silicon iron use high-purity ore.
- Foundry pig iron from ore for castings, 100 million tonnes/year.
- Hydrogen-based DRI trials reduce ore needs by 20% via efficiency.
- Iron ore pigments (ochre) production 1 million tonnes annually.
- Alloy steels with Ni/Cr require specific Fe content from ores.
- BF burden mix: 60% sinter, 25% pellets, 15% lump typical.
- Green steel initiatives target 30% ore reduction by 2030.
- Iron ore in water treatment as coagulant, 500k tonnes/year global.
- Stainless steel production uses 0.8 t ore/t steel due to high scrap.
- Global steel intensity in GDP falling 1%/year, impacting ore demand.
Uses and Applications Interpretation
While the steel industry's voracious appetite for iron ore is meticulously engineered down to the last pellet and sintered percentage point, its future hinges on whether green initiatives can slim this 98%-dependent behemoth faster than our economies can wisely wean themselves off its structural backbone.
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