Sponge iron exports from the United States: data, top buyers and prices
The United States exported $288.9 million of sponge iron in 2024 (762.3 thousand tonnes). That makes it the largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 75 countries. Value rose 31% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 13% a year on average.
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 | $288.9M | 762.3K t |
| 2023 | $220.4M | 539.0K t |
| 2022 | $176.7M | 422.5K t |
| 2021 | $200.5M | 386.2K t |
| 2020 | $46.1M | 142.4K t |
| 2019 | $233.3M | 544.6K t |
| 2018 | $206.5M | 467.1K t |
| 2017 | $122.6M | 253.6K t |
Where the United States exports sponge iron to
Mexico alone took 54% of it.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | $156.9M | 54% |
| Austria | $86.0M | 30% |
| Slovenia | $11.4M | 4% |
| Sweden | $11.1M | 3.9% |
| Brazil | $9.1M | 3.1% |
| Canada | $6.3M | 2.2% |
| Spain | $4.0M | 1.4% |
| France | $1.7M | 0.6% |
| Egypt | $1.3M | 0.4% |
| Vietnam | $421K | 0.2% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.38 per kg, close to the world average of $0.43.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Sponge iron imports to the United States
Imports of sponge iron by the United States reached $16.8 million in 2024 (2.4 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 5th largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 136 countries. One supplier dominates: Angola accounted for 53% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Japan grew fastest (+105% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Angola | $8.9M | 53% |
| Japan | $5.8M | 35% |
| India | $1.4M | 8.2% |
| Spain | $386K | 2.3% |
| China | $99K | 0.6% |
| United Kingdom | $82K | 0.5% |
| Malaysia | $62K | 0.4% |
| France | $25K | 0.2% |
| Canada | $24K | 0.1% |
| Bosnia Herzegovina | $13K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States sponge iron exports (HS 7203.90): 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 7203.90: Ferrous products: spongy ferrous products and iron having a minimum purity by weight of 99.94%, in lumps, pellets or similar forms.
Common questions
What is the value of sponge iron exported by the United States?
The United States exported sponge iron worth $288.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 762.3 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 1st of 75 countries worldwide, with 67% of world exports. The value was up 31% on 2023.
Which countries buy sponge iron from the United States?
Mexico was the largest buyer with 54% of the value ($156.9 million), followed by Austria (30%) and Slovenia (4%). The top three together account for 88%, out of 49 buyer countries in total.
What is the average export price of sponge iron per kg?
The average declared export value was about $0.38 per kg in 2024, 12% below the world average of $0.43 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have exports of sponge iron from the United States changed since 2017?
Exports went from $122.6 million in 2017 to $288.9 million in 2024, an increase of 136%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $186.9 million a year.
Does the United States also import sponge iron?
Yes. The United States imported $16.8 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Angola, Japan and India. On balance the United States is a net exporter of this product, by about $272.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for sponge iron?
The HS code for sponge iron is subheading 7203.90. It sits in HS chapter 72 (iron and steel). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7203 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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