🇺🇸 United States exports of metal ore: 2024 trade data
The United States exported $101.9 million of metal ore in 2024 (3.9 thousand tonnes). It ranks 4th of 129 countries for exports of this product. That is 539% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 50% a year on average.
Public statistics, latest reported year 2024. Values in US dollars.
Exports of metal ore by year, 2017-2024
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Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $101.9M | 3.9K t |
| 2023 | $16.0M | 4.7K t |
| 2022 | $2.7M | 718 t |
| 2021 | $2.4M | 691 t |
| 2020 | $1.7M | 316 t |
| 2019 | $4.4M | 3.5K t |
| 2018 | $11.5M | 7.6K t |
| 2017 | $6.0M | 4.2K t |
Where the United States exports metal ore to
Mexico alone took 99% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Mexico grew fastest (+647% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | $100.7M | 99% |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $426K | 0.4% |
| 🇭🇰 Hong Kong | $223K | 0.2% |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | $109K | 0.1% |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | $85K | 0.1% |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | $84K | 0.1% |
| 🇰🇾 Cayman Isds | $84K | 0.1% |
| 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | $81K | 0.1% |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | $47K | 0.1% |
| 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | $46K | 0.1% |
Types of metal ore under HS 2617
| 2617.90 | Ores and concentrates n.e.c. in chapter 26: other than antimony | 98% |
| 2617.10 | Antimony ores and concentrates | 2.4% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 2617.
Average export price of metal ore
The average declared value was about $26.17 per kg, 1961% above the world average of $1.27. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
The United States also imports metal ore
In 2024, the United States imported metal ore worth $4.8 million (945 tonnes). Most of the value came from Mexico (40%), Italy (26%), Thailand (8%). Among the main suppliers, India grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | $1.9M | 40% |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | $1.2M | 26% |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | $398K | 8.3% |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | $387K | 8.1% |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | $326K | 6.8% |
| 🇮🇳 India | $254K | 5.3% |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | $127K | 2.7% |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | $83K | 1.7% |
| 🇺🇦 Ukraine | $23K | 0.5% |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | $21K | 0.4% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
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.
Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
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 2617: Ores and concentrates; n.e.c. in heading no. 2601.
Metal ore trade in the United States: questions
What is the value of metal ore imported by the United States?
The United States imported metal ore worth $4.8 million in 2024 (945 tonnes).
Where does the United States import metal ore from?
The main supplier countries in 2024 were Mexico (40%), Italy (26%), Thailand (8%).
What is the average import price of metal ore in the United States?
The average declared import value was about $5.06 per kg in 2024, against a world average of $1.27 per kg.
Does the United States export metal ore?
Yes. The United States exported metal ore worth $101.9 million in 2024, mainly to Mexico, Canada, Hong Kong.
What is the HS code for metal ore?
Metal ore falls under HS heading 2617 (Ores and concentrates; n.e.c. in heading no. 2601). The six-digit codes under it split the product by type.
How can I find the companies trading metal ore with the United States?
These public statistics stop at country level. EximDataX has a direct customs feed for the United States with shipment-level records, updated weekly, where you can see the importers and exporters by name.
More trade data for the United States
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