World Iron Ore Resources Distribution
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 worlds 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 88.3% of total world production. The largest is Brazil, followed by Australia, China, India, Russia, Ukraine, and South Africa. China is by far the largest consumer, using about 62% of the world’s total (processed) iron ore.
Brazil:
Brazil is the world’s second largest iron ore-producing country behind Australia. It is estimated that 95% of Brazil’s iron ore is produced from the state of Para in the northern part of the country. The ore there is of high quality and is relatively easy to extract and process. In 2015 the Brazilian government estimated that the country has approximately 12.6 billion tons of iron ore reserves, although this number should be taken with a grain of salt since it has not been verified.
Australia:
Australia is the world’s largest iron ore producer and exporter, accounting for 37% of global production and 52% of global exports, respectively. The majority of its iron ore is mined in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, accounting for 80% of Australia’s total production.
China:
China is by far the largest consumer of iron ore, a reflection of the country’s status as the world’s largest steel producer. Its iron ore consumption accounts for 62% of the world’s total. Most of the country’s domestic iron ore comes from mines located in four provinces.
India:
India is the third-largest producer of iron ore after China and Brazil. It produces around 200 million tons of iron ore a year. Most of the ore is mined in the states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Goa, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
Russia:
Russia is the world’s fourth-largest iron ore producer and a major exporter of the metal. Russia’s iron ore production is concentrated in the Kursk magnetic anomaly region of the Central Russian Plateau and in the Ural Mountains. The country is estimated to produce around 110 million tons of iron ore per year.
Ukraine:
Ukraine is the sixth-largest iron ore producing country. As of 2019, the country produced only 20 million tons of iron ore, a sharp decline from its peak production of 53 million tons in 2000. This decline is attributed to the ageing iron ore mines and unfavorable geological conditions.
South Africa:
South Africa is the fifth-largest producer of iron ore in the world. It produces around 70 million tons of iron ore each year. Its reserves are estimated to be around 4.2 billion tons. The majority of its iron ore is mined in the Northern Cape province, with a significant percentage also produced in the Limpopo province.
Overall, the world is estimated to have around 160 billion tons of iron ore reserves. In addition to these major producing countries, there are a large number of other countries that produce smaller amounts of iron ore. Although the availability of iron ore has increased in recent years, its production is still concentrated in the hands of a few countries. Increasing global demand for steel and the need for a secure supply of iron ore will remain key considerations in the years to come.
