We use cookies to improve your experience and for marketing. Read our cookie policy or manage cookies.

Accept essential cookies
Accept all cookies
China - Iron Ores And Concentrates - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights
Report Update: Feb 1, 2025

China - Iron Ores And Concentrates - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights

Single report
Sent by email within 24h (Mon-Fri)
What's the difference?
Subscription
Online access and download
from $350/month

Get instant access to more than 2 million reports, dashboards, and datasets on the IndexBox Platform.

View Pricing
Jan 14, 2025

High-Grade Iron Ore Market Faces Challenging Year Ahead in 2025

As the global iron ore market gears up for 2025, stakeholders are closely monitoring the demand for high-grade iron ore due to fluctuating steelmaking margins, according to Fastmarkets. The demand for high-grade iron ore, including sintering feed and pellet feed, is anticipated to remain under pressure, influenced heavily by steel profit margins which have shown signs of weakness in early 2024.

In 2024, China's iron ore import value surged to $133.4 billion, up from $127.1 billion in 2023, reflecting the nation's reliance on raw material imports amid a sluggish recovery in the construction sector and persistent oversupply issues. Australia's dominance as a primary supplier continued, contributing $80.4 billion, followed by Brazil with $28 billion in iron ore imports to China.

The high-grade sintering fines market faces headwinds in terms of supply, with the port inventory at Chinese ports showing high levels. Despite Brazil's rainy season typically affecting production, its impact has been minimal on the northern regions, maintaining the flow of high-grade Carajas fines. Meanwhile, the much-awaited Simandou project is projected to commence its first high-grade ore shipments by late 2025, potentially altering supply dynamics.

Other international suppliers, including Ukraine, have resumed exports since their suspension in 2022, contributing to the stable international supply chain. Imports of iron ore pellet reached 21.79 million tonnes in the January-November period of 2024, marking a modest increase of 1.6% from 2023 figures.

Market Caution and Domestic Output Challenges

The 2025 outlook for high-grade iron ore prices remains guarded as China's domestic concentrates output grapples with frequent safety inspections. Despite aiming for an uptick to 370 million tonnes by the year's end, the constraints could persist, thereby challenging China's goal to enhance domestic production capabilities significantly.

As the market seeks balance, the ongoing situation underscores the delicate interplay between import dependencies valued at $3 billion in export figures—largely to Asian counterparts such as Japan and South Korea—and domestic production aspirations. For instance, in 2024, exports to Japan amounted to $1.7 billion, highlighting significant engagement within the region.

The high-grade iron ore market in China and beyond is poised to navigate a complex landscape in 2025. The overarching sentiment among industry insiders is one of caution, as they anticipate continued volatility driven by both external supply factors and domestic market conditions.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the iron ore market in China. Within it, you will discover the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption, production and price developments, as well as the global trade (imports and exports). The forecast exhibits the market prospects through 2030.

Product coverage:

  • Prodcom 07101000 - Iron ores and concentrates (excluding roasted iron pyrites)
  • Prodcom 07101010 -
  • Prodcom 07101020 -

Country coverage:

Data coverage:

  • Market volume and value
  • Per Capita consumption
  • Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term
  • Trade (exports and imports) in China
  • Export and import prices
  • Market trends, drivers and restraints
  • Key market players and their profiles

Reasons to buy this report:

  • Take advantage of the latest data
  • Find deeper insights into current market developments
  • Discover vital success factors affecting the market

This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, and wholesalers, as well as for investors, consultants and advisors.

In this report, you can find information that helps you to make informed decisions on the following issues:

  1. How to diversify your business and benefit from new market opportunities
  2. How to load your idle production capacity
  3. How to boost your sales on overseas markets
  4. How to increase your profit margins
  5. How to make your supply chain more sustainable
  6. How to reduce your production and supply chain costs
  7. How to outsource production to other countries
  8. How to prepare your business for global expansion

While doing this research, we combine the accumulated expertise of our analysts and the capabilities of artificial intelligence. The AI-based platform, developed by our data scientists, constitutes the key working tool for business analysts, empowering them to discover deep insights and ideas from the marketing data.

  1. 1. INTRODUCTION

    Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

    1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
    2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND AI PLATFORM
    3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
    4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS

  2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    A Quick Overview of Market Performance

    1. KEY FINDINGS
    2. MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO

  3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

    Understanding the Current State of The Market and Its Prospects

    1. MARKET SIZE
    2. MARKET STRUCTURE
    3. TRADE BALANCE
    4. PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION
    5. MARKET FORECAST TO 2030

  4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCT

    Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
    2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
    3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCT
    4. MOST TRADED PRODUCT
    5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCT FOR EXPORT

  5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

    Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
    3. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
    4. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES

  6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

    Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Exports

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
    3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
    4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS

  7. 7. PRODUCTION

    The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

    1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE

  8. 8. IMPORTS

    The Largest Import Supplying Countries

    1. IMPORTS FROM 2012–2024
    2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY
    3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY

  9. 9. EXPORTS

    The Largest Destinations for Exports

    1. EXPORTS FROM 2012–2024
    2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY
    3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY

  10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

    The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO

  11. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2024
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    3. Market Value, 2012–2024
    4. Per Capita Consumption In 2012-2024
    5. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    6. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    7. Import Prices, By Country Of Origin, 2012–2024
    8. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    9. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    10. Export Prices, By Country Of Destination, 2012–2024

  12. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    2. Market Value, 2012–2024
    3. Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, In Physical Terms, 2012-2024
    4. Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, In Value Terms, 2012-2024
    5. Trade Balance, In Physical Terms, 2012-2024
    6. Trade Balance, In Value Terms, 2012-2024
    7. Per Capita Consumption, 2012-2024
    8. Market Volume Forecast to 2030
    9. Market Value Forecast to 2030
    10. Products: Market Size And Growth, By Type
    11. Products: Average Per Capita Consumption, By Type
    12. Products: Exports And Growth, By Type
    13. Products: Export Prices And Growth, By Type
    14. Production Volume And Growth
    15. Exports And Growth
    16. Export Prices And Growth
    17. Market Size And Growth
    18. Per Capita Consumption
    19. Imports And Growth
    20. Import Prices
    21. Production, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    22. Production, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
    23. Imports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    24. Imports, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
    25. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
    26. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    27. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    28. Import Prices, By Country Of Origin, 2012–2024
    29. Exports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    30. Exports, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
    31. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
    32. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    33. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    34. Export Prices, By Country Of Destination, 2012–2024

Recommended posts

Free Data: Iron Ores And Concentrates - China
Table
Iron Ores And Concentrates - China - Table
Dashboard
Iron Ores And Concentrates - China - Dashboard
Report
Iron Ores And Concentrates - China - Report