Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $223.1m in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Elevated iron ore prices have lifted revenue and profitability
- Despite significant volatility, rising iron ore prices have increased industry revenue over the past few years.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Domestic steel demand is set to rebound despite short-term headwinds
- In the near term, high interest rates and inflationary pressures across the economy will weigh on construction activity and domestic steel demand.
Biggest companies in the Iron Ore Mining in New Zealand
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
New Zealand Steel | 112.5 | |
Taharoa Mining Investments | 108.9 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including High-grade iron sands and Medium-grade iron sands. High-grade iron sands is the largest segment of the Iron Ore Mining in New Zealand.
Trends and Insights
Domestic steel consumption is driving demand for high-grade iron sands
- This product segment is mainly mined at the Waikato North Head mine, owned and operated by New Zealand Steel. These iron sands have an iron concentration of approximately 59%, categorising this output as relatively high-grade.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Industry firms extract iron ore or iron sand, and carry out basic beneficiation processes to refine the mined ore. The industry also includes businesses that produce sinter and other agglomerates.
What's included in this industry?
High-grade iron sandsMedium-grade iron sandsCompanies
New Zealand SteelTaharoa Mining InvestmentsPurchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
BENEFICIATIONIRON SANDMAGNETITETAILINGSIndustry Code
ANZSIC 0801 - Iron Ore Mining in New Zealand
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Global iron ore prices have displayed significant volatility over the past few years. Despite the volatility, rising prices have boosted iron ore miners' revenue.
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Medium-grade iron sands are struggling because of inconsistent international demand. Mainly mined at the Taharoa site for export, volatile demand, particularly from China's p...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
- International Trade
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
- Total imports, level and trend
- Total exports, level and trend
- Trade Balance
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
- International trade, including imports by country and exports by country
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
- Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Production is concentrated in the Waikato region in the north-west of the country. Almost all output comes from the Waikato North Head and Taharoa mines.
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Competition among iron sand miners is low, with two companies dominating the industry. Producers also face limited competition from imports at the mining level.
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
The industry is dominated by two major companies, which account for almost all domestic production. In May 2017, New Zealand Steel relinquished its monopoly by divesting its ...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of New Zealand Steel's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Taharoa Mining Investments's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for New Zealand Steel, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Taharoa Mining Investments, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
High iron ore prices have driven revenue growth for miners. Prices are set to fall in 2024-25, as rising interest rates start to weigh on global construction activity and iro...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Global iron ore prices have remained high over the years, resulting in surging profit margins. Despite minor setbacks, like rising purchase costs and wage increases, profitab...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Iron Ore Mining industry in New Zealand in 2024?
The market size of the Iron Ore Mining industry in New Zealand is $223.1m in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Iron Ore Mining in New Zealand industry in 2024?
There are 3 businesses in the Iron Ore Mining industry in New Zealand, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Iron Ore Mining industry in New Zealand grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Iron Ore Mining industry in New Zealand has been growing at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Iron Ore Mining industry in New Zealand over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Iron Ore Mining industry in New Zealand is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Iron Ore Mining market in New Zealand?
The biggest companies operating in the Iron Ore Mining market in New Zealand are New Zealand Steel and Taharoa Mining Investments
What does the Iron Ore Mining in New Zealand include?
High-grade iron sands and Medium-grade iron sands are part of the Iron Ore Mining industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Iron Ore Mining in New Zealand?
The company holding the most market share in New Zealand is New Zealand Steel.
How competitive is the Iron Ore Mining industry in New Zealand?
The level of competition is low and increasing in the Iron Ore Mining industry in New Zealand.
Related Industries
Widen your competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- There are no industries to display.
Complementors
- Gravel and Sand Quarrying in New Zealand
- Mining Support Services in New Zealand
- Mining
- Non-Ferrous Metal Product Manufacturing in New Zealand
International industries
- Global Iron Ore Mining
- Iron Ore Mining in the US
- Iron Ore Mining in Canada
- Iron Ore Mining in Australia
- Iron Ore Mining in China
View all industries in New Zealand
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in New Zealand include:
- Statistics New Zealand
- New Zealand Company Register
- Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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