The world's biggest iron ore producers ranked by estimated 2025 usable-ore output, from the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026.
Australia is the world's largest iron ore producer, with an estimated 980 million tonnes of usable ore in 2025. Brazil is second at 420 million tonnes and India third at 310 million tonnes. The ranking uses USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 estimates of 2025 usable iron ore mine production.
Iron ore is the only source of primary iron for steelmaking, and the world mined about 2.6 billion tonnes of usable ore in 2025. Supply is dominated by Australia, which alone produces well over a third of the world's usable ore. This list ranks countries by iron ore mine production using the U.S. Geological Survey's Mineral Commodity Summaries. The 2025 estimates show a notable change in the order: India moving ahead of China.
Australia produced an estimated 980 million tonnes of usable iron ore in 2025, about 38% of the world total and more than Brazil and India combined. Its 600 Mt of contained iron is also the largest.
Brazil mined an estimated 420 million tonnes in 2025 and supplied 58% of U.S. iron ore imports in 2021-24.
India's output rose an estimated 10% to 310 million tonnes in 2025 from 282 Mt, lifting it past China into third place.
China mined an estimated 290 million tonnes in 2025, down from 293 Mt, and slipped behind India into fourth place.
Iran produced an estimated 93 million tonnes in 2025, up from 90 Mt, overtaking Russia for fifth.
Russia's output fell an estimated 5% to 86 million tonnes in 2025 from 91 Mt in 2024.
Canada produced an estimated 69 million tonnes in 2025 and was the second-largest supplier of U.S. iron ore imports in 2021-24, at 21%.
South Africa mined an estimated 66 million tonnes in 2025. Its higher-grade ore carries 42 Mt of iron, slightly more than Canada's larger tonnage.
Ukraine produced an estimated 52 million tonnes in 2025, down from 54.7 Mt, while USGS credits it with large A and B category reserves of 6.5 billion tonnes of crude ore.
U.S. output dropped an estimated 16% to 38 million tonnes in 2025 after two Minnesota mines were idled in March (one indefinitely, one partially). Kazakhstan, at 35 Mt, is next.
| # | Name | 2024 output (Mt) | Iron content 2025 (Mt) | Share of world 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 982 | 600 | 37.7% |
| 2 | Brazil | 428 | 260 | 16.2% |
| 3 | India | 282 | 190 | 11.9% |
| 4 | China | 293 | 180 | 11.2% |
| 5 | Iran | 90 | 61 | 3.6% |
| 6 | Russia | 91 | 50 | 3.3% |
| 7 | Canada | 70 | 41 | 2.7% |
| 8 | South Africa | 64 | 42 | 2.5% |
| 9 | Ukraine | 54.7 | 32 | 2.0% |
| 10 | United States | 45.1 | 24 | 1.5% |
Ranked by estimated 2025 mine production of usable iron ore (in million metric tons of usable ore), from the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 (February 2026) iron ore chapter, which reports figures in thousand tons; they are converted to million tons here. Usable ore differs in grade by country, so the iron-content column is shown for comparison: it does not change the top four but would put South Africa (42 Mt) ahead of Canada (41 Mt). Share of world uses the USGS rounded world total of 2,600 million tonnes. Only countries USGS reports individually are ranked; 'other countries' (64 Mt combined) are excluded. 2025 figures are USGS estimates and may be revised.
Australia, with an estimated 980 million tonnes of usable ore in 2025, more than twice Brazil's 420 million tonnes, according to the USGS.
Usable ore is the tonnage of ore product USGS reports; iron content is the iron contained in it. Grades vary, so Australia's 980 Mt of usable ore held about 600 Mt of iron in 2025.
This list counts usable iron ore mined. China mined an estimated 290 Mt in 2025, less than Australia, Brazil or India; India moved ahead of China in 2025 (310 Mt vs 290 Mt) after trailing it in 2024 (282 Mt vs 293 Mt).