VALE - 9 Top Iron-producing Countries

Iron ore prices have been on the rise due to the 2019 tailings dam collapsed at Vale’s (NYSE:VALE) Córrego do Feijão mine in Brazil and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Prices for the base metal have gradually trended upward since the mine collapse in Brazil, hitting a five year high of US$123.19 per tonne in July 2019. Although iron ore prices fell off that high, dropping as low as US$80.36 per tonne near the end of 2019, the rapid spread of the coronavirus in Brazil has stymied iron ore production once again.

As of mid-June 2020, the iron ore price was up again over per tonne. “So far this year, iron ore and gold have been the only metals that have not suffered price slumps in the backdrop of the pandemic,” reported Zacks Investment Research.

While supply concerns out of Brazil have helped lead iron ore’s rally, it’s important to note other major producers of the commodity. As such, here are the 9 top iron producing countries of 2019 with data provided by the US Geological Survey.

1. Australia

Usable ore: 930 million tons (Mt); iron content: 580 Mt

First on the list is Australia, the largest iron ore mining country, whose usable iron ore output was 930,000 Mt in 2019. Having grown from 2018’s numbers of 900,000 Mt, the increase was no doubt helped by Australia’s leading iron ore producer, BHP Billiton (NYSE:BHP,ASX:BHP,LSE:BLT).

As Brazil continues to recover from last year’s issues with Vale, Australian officials have since released a report detailing their intentions to help fill the supply gap to remain the biggest iron ore producer. Iron ore exports out of the land down under are expected to climb with the report citing large producers ramping up to their long-term production targets.

2. Brazil

Usable ore: 480 Mt; iron content: 260 Mt

The second-largest iron-producing country is Brazil, where usable iron ore production totalled 480 Mt in 2019. Though the deadly aforementioned incident involving Vale operations understandably had an impact on the country’s 2019 iron production, the South American nation’s numbers grew between 2017 and 2018.

In June 2020, Vale reaffirmed its iron ore output guidance, keeping its monthly production forecast at the Itabira mining complex at 2.7 million tonnes “for the next months.” The company expects overall potential output losses associated with the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 to be up to 15 million tonnes.

3. China

Usable ore: 350 Mt; iron content: 220 Mt

China is the world’s largest consumer of iron ore despite being only the third-largest iron-producing country. Its production of usable ore increased slightly, rising from 340 Mt in 2018 to 350 Mt in 2019.

With China being the world’s largest producer of stainless steel, its domestic supplies are not enough to meet demand.  The country imports over 70 percent of global seaborne iron ore. Recent industrial stats out of China show the country’s economic activity is once again surging in 2020, creating healthy demand for imported iron ore.

4. India

Usable ore: 210 Mt; iron content: 130 Mt

Production of usable iron ore increased from 2018 to 2019, climbing from the previous year’s mark of 200 Mt to 210 Mt. However, iron content production remained the same as 2018 at 130 Mt.

India’s largest iron ore miner, NMDC Ltd., had to slash prices for its iron ore products in 2020 due to slumping demand brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. However, analysts see prices improving as India’s steel industry increases output.

5. Russia

Usable ore: 99 Mt; iron content: 59 Mt

Russia comes in as the fifth-largest iron-producing country in the world. Usable iron ore production increased slightly from 2018 at 96 Mt to 99 Mt, while iron content inched up from 56.7 Mt to 59 Mt.

In 2020, Russia is taking advantage of the coronavirus-induced drops in iron ore production in other regions to increase its iron ore exports to the global steel market.

6. South Africa

Usable ore: 77 Mt; iron content: 49 Mt

Also up slightly from 2018 was South Africa, whose usable iron ore production rose from 74.3 Mt to a flat 77 Mt in 2019. The country’s iron ore content also jumped from 47.2 Mt to 49 million.

Kumba Iron Ore (JSE:KIO) is Africa’s largest iron ore producer. The company’s flagship mine, Sishen, accounts for approximately 69 percent of Kumba’s total iron ore output. The company saw its share price jump to a new year-to-date high in early June 2020 as the slowdown in iron ore production out of regions such as Brazil sent the price of iron ore up over US$100 per tonne.

7. Ukraine

Usable ore: 62 Mt; iron content: 39 Mt

Taking the number 7 spot again is Ukraine, whose usable iron ore production in 2019 was 62 Mt, up from 60 Mt in 2018.

Black Iron (TSX:BKI) is a Canadian company exploring and developing its 100 percent owned Shymanivske project in the country. After having nearly started operations at the mine in 2014, the company had to put the project on hold when Russia invaded Ukraine.

Now that the conflict has cooled, Black Iron has completed a preliminary economic assessment, and is making advances towards construction. The study reported 68 percent iron ore concentrate with Phase 1 putting out 4 Mt each year and Phase 2 putting out 8 Mt annually. When the time comes, this will make an impact on the total national iron ore market, but for now the company is still securing land rights and financing for construction.

8. Canada

Usable ore: 54 Mt; iron content: 33 Mt

Coming in as the eighth largest iron-producing country, Canada’s production totaled 54 Mt of usable iron ore and 33 Mt of iron content in 2019.

Champion Iron (TSX:CIA) is one company pursuing iron ore production in the country. It is focusing on developing iron ore resources in Quebec, and in 2016 it acquired the Bloom Lake mine.  Champion Iron ships iron concentrate from the Bloom Lake open-pit by rail, initially on the Bloom Lake Railway, to a ship loading port in Sept-Îles, Québec. In 2019, the company completed a feasibility study for Bloom Lake’s Phase 2 expansion, which is set to entail increasing overall capacity from 7.4 Mt per year to 15 Mt per year of 66.2 percent iron ore concentrate.

9. United States

Usable ore: 48 Mt; iron content: 31 Mt

Iron ore production in the US decreased slightly in 2019. According to the US Geological Survey, the country produced approximately 1.9 percent of the world’s output. US production came from seven open-pit mines along with three iron metallic plants —two hot-briquetted iron plants and one direct-reduced iron plant — to help supply steelmaking raw material.

The survey went on to add that mines in Michigan and Minnesota alone shipped 98 percent of usable iron ore products in the US at an estimated value of US$5.4 billion.

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Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.