Top 5 Iron Ore Producing Countries in the World
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Iron is one of the most widely used metals by humans. Its relatively easy processing and low price make iron an essential material in various industries such as construction, automotive, household appliances, military, and so on.
According to data from the US Geological Survey, total global iron ore production reached approximately 2.4 billion tons in 2020. This amount is expected to continue increasing until 2025, driven by high consumption from the Chinese and other countries' industries.
As reported by nsenergybusiness.com, here is a list of the five largest iron ore producing countries in the world in 2020.
1. Australia – 900 Million Tons
Australia ranks first as the world's largest iron ore producer, reaching 900 million tons or approximately 37.5% of the world's total production in 2020. Australia also has the world's largest reserves of raw iron ore, estimated by the US Geological Survey to be around 50 billion tons.
2. Brazil – 400 Million Tons
Brazil produced approximately 400 million tons of iron ore in 2020, or about 17% of the world's total production. The Carajás mine in the Pará state of northern Brazil is one of the world's largest iron ore mines and is operated by the Rio de Janeiro-based company Vale.
3. China – 340 Million Tons
An estimated 340 million tons of iron ore were produced in China in 2020, placing it third on the list of the world's largest iron ore producing countries. China is also the world's largest consumer of iron ore. It is estimated that there are 20 billion tons of raw iron ore reserves in the country.
4. India – 230 Million Tons
India produced 230 million tons of iron ore, or 10% of the world's total production. The National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) is the largest iron ore producer in India, with total mining output exceeding 31 million tons in 2019-2020.
5. Russia – 95 Million Tons
Russia is the largest iron ore producer in Europe, and in 2020 it is estimated to have produced 95 million tons. Most of the country's iron ore is located in Central Russia, with the remainder coming from Siberia and the Urals.
(Read More: Impact of Freeport Mining Transition, Indonesian Gold Production Down 6.47% in 2020)
"Disclosure: This is an AI-generated translation of the original article. We strive for accuracy, but please note that automated translations may contain errors or slight inconsistencies."
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