Iron ore pellets trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in iron ore pellets was worth $16.38 billion in 2024, about 133.36 million tonnes. That is an increase of 8% since 2017, and down 20% 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 | $16.38B | 133.36M t |
| 2023 | $20.57B | 153.08M t |
| 2022 | $22.45B | 143.82M t |
| 2021 | $28.28B | 158.64M t |
| 2020 | $16.41B | 154.41M t |
| 2019 | $20.51B | 180.77M t |
| 2018 | $18.23B | 182.00M t |
| 2017 | $15.21B | 152.69M t |
Top iron ore pellets exporting countries
Brazil is the largest exporter with 21% of world exports, followed by Sweden and Canada. The top three supply 46% between them, out of 89 exporting countries.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | $3.49B | 21% |
| Sweden | $2.10B | 13% |
| Canada | $1.98B | 12% |
| Bahrain | $1.68B | 10% |
| Ukraine | $1.32B | 8.1% |
| Oman | $1.25B | 7.7% |
| United States | $1.06B | 6.4% |
| India | $985.9M | 6% |
| Iran | $535.1M | 3.3% |
| Kazakhstan | $432.3M | 2.6% |
| Australia | $358.1M | 2.2% |
| Russia | $176.7M | 1.1% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
The largest importers are China (17%), Egypt (8%) and Saudi Arabia (6%). 87 countries imported it, and the top three take 31% of the value.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $2.78B | 17% |
| Egypt | $1.36B | 8.3% |
| Saudi Arabia | $961.9M | 5.9% |
| Germany | $876.8M | 5.4% |
| Canada | $752.3M | 4.6% |
| Japan | $748.6M | 4.6% |
| South Korea | $702.1M | 4.3% |
| United States | $687.6M | 4.2% |
| Netherlands | $650.5M | 4% |
| Algeria | $611.0M | 3.7% |
| United Arab Emirates | $559.2M | 3.4% |
| Qatar | $480.8M | 2.9% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $0.12 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Bahrain averaged $0.18 per kg and the United States $0.10 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.
Related product types
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
The shipment records behind Iron ore pellets (HS 2601.12) importers and exporters, worldwide: companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
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 2601.12: Iron ores and concentrates: agglomerated (excluding roasted iron pyrites). HS 2601 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most iron ore pellets?
Brazil exported $3.49 billion in 2024, 21% of the world total, followed by Sweden (13%) and Canada (12%). In all, 89 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most iron ore pellets?
China imported $2.78 billion in 2024, 17% of world imports, ahead of Egypt (8%) and Saudi Arabia (6%). The top three importers together take 31%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in iron ore pellets?
It was worth $16.38 billion in 2024, about 133.36 million tonnes. That is an increase of 8% since 2017. The peak year was 2021 at $28.28 billion. 89 countries reported exports and 87 reported imports.
What is the average price of iron ore pellets per kg?
The world average declared value was about $0.12 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Bahrain averaged $0.18 per kg and the United States $0.10 per kg, so grade and origin matter. The average mixes every grade and size, so use it as a market reference rather than an offer.
What is the HS code for iron ore pellets?
The HS code for iron ore pellets is subheading 2601.12, in chapter 26 (ores, slag and ash). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 2601 page.
How can I find iron ore pellets buyers and suppliers?
Company names sit below these country totals: EximDataX reads the customs records shipment by shipment, with dates and values. We can show iron ore pellets buyers and suppliers on a short call.
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.