How much iron ore does Australia produce and export?
Australia is the largest producer of iron ore: 980 million tonnes in 2025, 38% of the world's 2.6 billion tonnes (USGS MCS). It is the largest exporter by value: $87.4 billion in 2024, 55% of world exports of iron ore (HS 2601) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is China, which takes 83% of its iron ore exports by value.
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Australia's iron ore production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 980 million tonnes | 38% | — | 2025 |
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, MCS 2026.
Australia's iron ore exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $87.4 billion | 55% | 893 million t | $98 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 2601 (Iron ores and concentrates).
Where Australia's iron ore goes
| Destination | Value | Share of Australia's exports |
|---|---|---|
| China | $72.6B | 83% |
| Japan | $5.4B | 6.2% |
| South Korea | $5.4B | 6.2% |
| Other Asia, nes | $1.5B | 1.8% |
| Indonesia | $1.0B | 1.2% |
The iron ore price Australia sells into
The benchmark price, 62% Fe fines, CFR China spot, was $97.7/dmtu in September 2026, down 5% over twelve months. Its five-year volatility is 27% a year, calmer in 70% of its earlier five-year windows. A single country's export price can differ from the benchmark: see trade price against benchmark. Monthly averages lag the market and are not investment advice. Iron ore price history.
Cite as: Commodity Origins, "Australia iron ore: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/AUS/iron-ore/ (CC BY 4.0). Rankings count only countries reporting to the sources named; this page is shown only for top-five producers or exporters with at least 3% of the world total. Report an issue with this page.