Ferro-alloys trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in ferro-alloys was worth $44.31 billion in 2024, about 26.63 million tonnes. That is an increase of 47% since 2017, and down 11% on 2023.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
World trade by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $44.31B | 26.63M t |
| 2023 | $49.80B | 25.55M t |
| 2022 | $58.86B | 23.97M t |
| 2021 | $44.72B | 22.79M t |
| 2020 | $28.30B | 19.55M t |
| 2019 | $31.69B | 19.54M t |
| 2018 | $34.64B | 19.19M t |
| 2017 | $30.14B | 18.65M t |
Top ferro-alloys exporting countries
Exports are led by Indonesia (31%), South Africa (11%) and Brazil (9%). 127 countries reported exports, and the top three account for 51%.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | $13.77B | 31% |
| South Africa | $5.00B | 11% |
| Brazil | $3.94B | 8.9% |
| India | $2.83B | 6.4% |
| Kazakhstan | $2.66B | 6% |
| China | $1.47B | 3.3% |
| Netherlands | $1.37B | 3.1% |
| Norway | $1.33B | 3% |
| South Korea | $1.21B | 2.7% |
| Malaysia | $1.07B | 2.4% |
| New Caledonia | $691.7M | 1.6% |
| Russia | $574.2M | 1.3% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
China is the biggest buyer with 42% of world imports, ahead of the United States and the Netherlands. Demand is concentrated: the top three take 54% across 170 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $18.78B | 42% |
| United States | $2.62B | 5.9% |
| Netherlands | $2.52B | 5.7% |
| Japan | $2.11B | 4.8% |
| South Korea | $1.74B | 3.9% |
| Indonesia | $1.63B | 3.7% |
| Germany | $1.51B | 3.4% |
| Italy | $1.22B | 2.8% |
| Mozambique | $1.16B | 2.6% |
| India | $1.04B | 2.3% |
| Turkey | $832.9M | 1.9% |
| Taiwan | $784.9M | 1.8% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $1.66 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Brazil averaged $6.14 per kg and South Africa $1.10 per kg, so grade and origin matter.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments worldwide. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 7202: Ferro-alloys. HS 7202 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most ferro-alloys?
Indonesia exported $13.77 billion in 2024, 31% of the world total, followed by South Africa (11%) and Brazil (9%). In all, 127 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most ferro-alloys?
China imported $18.78 billion in 2024, 42% of world imports, ahead of the United States (6%) and the Netherlands (6%). The top three importers together take 54%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in ferro-alloys?
It was worth $44.31 billion in 2024, about 26.63 million tonnes. That is an increase of 47% since 2017. The peak year was 2022 at $58.86 billion. 127 countries reported exports and 170 reported imports.
What is the average price of ferro-alloys per kg?
The world average declared value was about $1.66 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Brazil averaged $6.14 per kg and South Africa $1.10 per kg, so grade and origin matter. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so treat it as a benchmark, not a quote.
What is the HS code for ferro-alloys?
The HS code for ferro-alloys is heading 7202, in chapter 72 (iron and steel). Customs uses this code worldwide at the six-digit level; national tariffs add more digits. The full list of codes is on the HS 7202 page.
How can I find ferro-alloys buyers and suppliers?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX shows the importers and exporters behind this trade from shipment-level customs records, updated weekly, with direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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