Global iron ore exports reached 1.76 billion tons in 2025, increasing by 2.6%

Supply activity continues in global iron ore markets. Global iron ore exports, which stood at 1.715 billion tons in 2024, recorded a 2.6% increase in 2025, rising to 1.760 billion tons. According to data compiled by SteelRadar, the 2025 export figures for iron ore the primary raw material for global steel production revealed the balances of production and trade worldwide. While Australia and Brazil maintained their dominance in the market, significant capacity increases and decreases were observed in certain regions.

Australia and Brazil Lead the Way Australia, the world’s largest iron ore exporter, solidified its leadership by increasing its shipments from 902 million tons in 2024 to 924 million tons in 2025. Brazil, in second place, increased its exports from 390 million tons to 420 million tons, becoming one of the countries contributing most significantly to the global supply increase. South Africa and Canada Continued Their Uptrend South Africa, ranked near the top of the list, continued to increase its export volume to 65.7 million tons, while Canada did the same, reaching 61.9 million tons.

Despite the war, Ukraine maintained its fifth place ranking by increasing its exports from 31.9 million tons to 35.7 million tons, pushing its logistics channels to the limit. Declines Observed in Exports from India and China According to industry data, India’s exports fell from 37.7 million tons to 26.4 million tons due to rising domestic demand and the impact of tax regulations. Similarly, China—the world’s largest steel producer but one that redirects its resources to the domestic market saw its exports drop from 24.6 million tons to 21.8 million tons.

Notable Increases from Russia and Sierra Leone One of the most notable growth rates in the 2025 data was observed in Russia. Russia increased its exports from 9.6 million tons to 13.6 million tons, recording a growth of over 40 percent. The West African nation of Sierra Leone also maintained its status as an emerging market by rising to 14th place on the list with exports of 12.3 million tons. Meanwhile, the United States’ iron ore exports fell from 10.2 million tons to 5.2 million tons, marking one of the sharpest declines on the list.