Iron ore pellets exports from the United States: data, top buyers and prices
Exports of iron ore pellets by the United States reached $1.06 billion in 2024 (10.57 million tonnes). It ranks 7th of 89 countries for exports of this product. That is 14% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2021, at $1.38 billion.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1.06B | 10.57M t |
| 2023 | $1.23B | 11.72M t |
| 2022 | $1.29B | 11.17M t |
| 2021 | $1.38B | 12.38M t |
| 2020 | $911.6M | 10.10M t |
| 2019 | $1.07B | 11.09M t |
| 2018 | $1.09B | 12.92M t |
| 2017 | $884.4M | 10.73M t |
Where the United States exports iron ore pellets to
Canada alone took 70% of it. Among the main buyer markets, France grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | $736.0M | 70% |
| Germany | $98.8M | 9.4% |
| France | $97.2M | 9.2% |
| Japan | $38.5M | 3.6% |
| United Kingdom | $22.2M | 2.1% |
| Netherlands | $20.8M | 2% |
| Spain | $15.6M | 1.5% |
| Sweden | $9.8M | 0.9% |
| Finland | $8.1M | 0.8% |
| Italy | $3.9M | 0.4% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.10 per kg, close to the world average of $0.12.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Iron ore pellets imports to the United States
In 2024, the United States imported iron ore pellets worth $687.6 million (4.66 million tonnes). That makes it the 8th largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 87 countries. Brazil alone supplied 57% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | $392.9M | 57% |
| Canada | $281.8M | 41% |
| Sweden | $11.2M | 1.6% |
| Australia | $1.2M | 0.2% |
| South Africa | $493K | 0.1% |
| France | $40K | 0% |
| Lithuania | $2K | 0% |
| Turkey | $0K | 0% |
| Namibia | $0K | 0% |
| India | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States iron ore pellets exports (HS 2601.12): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
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).
Common questions
What is the value of iron ore pellets exported by the United States?
The United States exported iron ore pellets worth $1.06 billion in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 10.57 million tonnes. That ranks it 7th of 89 countries worldwide, with 6% of world exports. The value was down 14% on 2023.
Which countries buy iron ore pellets from the United States?
Canada was the largest buyer with 70% of the value ($736.0 million), followed by Germany (9%) and France (9%). The top three together account for 88%, out of 25 buyer countries in total. Finland grew fastest among the top ten, up 61% on the year.
What is the average export price of iron ore pellets per kg?
The average declared export value was about $0.10 per kg in 2024, 17% below the world average of $0.12 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have exports of iron ore pellets from the United States changed since 2017?
Exports went from $884.4 million in 2017 to $1.06 billion in 2024, an increase of 19%. The peak was 2021 at $1.38 billion. Over 8 years the average was $1.11 billion a year.
Does the United States also import iron ore pellets?
Yes. The United States imported $687.6 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Brazil, Canada and Sweden. On balance the United States is a net exporter of this product, by about $367.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for iron ore pellets?
The HS code for iron ore pellets is subheading 2601.12. It sits in HS chapter 26 (ores, slag and ash). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 2601 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; the company-level detail sits in EximDataX, which has a direct customs feed for the United States. Tell us your product to see it live.
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