Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2011-2026)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 5.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $7.0bn in 2021.
Trends and Insights
Iron ore miners face considerable price-based volatility
- Iron ore miners have faced severe volatility amid downstream markets undergoing massive shakeups throughout the period. Weakened steel production before and during the pandemic pushed down revenue significantly. Mining and steel production ramped as the economy reopened, which spiked iron ore prices and profit.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Falling steel prices cuts into revenue
- Iron ore and steel prices will normalize as supply chain woes entirely subside. This will cause revenue to take a massive hit as downstream producers pay less for materials.
Biggest companies in the Iron Ore Mining in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 | Profit ($m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. | 3,045.3 | 180.0 | 5.9 | |
United States Steel Corp | 1,914.7 | 107.9 | 5.6 |
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 Iron ore pellets and Other products . Iron ore pellets is the largest segment of the Iron Ore Mining in the US.
Trends and Insights
Steelmakers' use of iron ore pellets takes a dip
- This segment comprises raw iron ore converted into pellets with characteristics appropriate for a blast furnace to produce steel. Refining improves the saleable product and attracts higher prices than concentrates or raw iron ore.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in this industry mine iron-bearing ores. In addition to ore extraction, mining includes the development of mine sites and the processing of ore into a concentrated or pellet form. Iron ore and iron ore pellets are then sold as an input for blast-furnace steel production; refer to IBISWorld report 33111 for more information.
What's included in this industry?
Iron ore miningIron ore beneficiatingCompanies
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.United States Steel CorpPurchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
TACONITEIRON ORE PELLETSPELLETIZINGBENEFICIATIONIndustry Code
NAICS 21221 - Iron Ore Mining in the US
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
Pandemic-induced supply chain issues caused massive swings in revenue. While steel prices dipped after 2021, revenue exhibited slight growth later on as government incentives...
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 (2011-2020) and forecast (2021-2026)
- Employees, including historical (2011-2020) and forecast (2021-2026)
- Businesses, including historical (2011-2020) and forecast (2021-2026)
- Profit, including historical (2011-2021)
- 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
Automobile markets slumped early in the period as pandemic-induced lockdowns decimated travel. As the economy recovered, so did automobile manufacturing, which caused the nee...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
- International Trade
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2021
- Product innovation level
- Total imports, level and trend
- Total exports, level and trend
- Trade Balance
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2021
- Major market segmentation in 2021
- 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
Iron deposits in Michigan attract miners to the Great Lakes. The region is also home to many automobile manufacturers, offering easy access to a critical market.
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2021
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each state in 2021
- Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2021
- Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2021
- Number and share of employees in each state in 2021
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, 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
Miners consistently face stiff price-based competition. Iron ore miners must compete to acquire highly lucrative contracts with steel producers.
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 2016-2021
- 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
US Steel and Cleveland-Cliff’s dominate the industry. These companies’ presence and mining capabilities in Minnesota and Michigan's five largest iron ore mines in the US enab...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2017 through 2021
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2021
- Overview of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2015 through 2021
- Overview of United States Steel Corp's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2015 through 2021
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for United States Steel Corp, 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
Iron ore miners are highly regulated. Miners must comply with emission standards set by the EPA and follow the rules set by the Bureau of Land Management about where mining i...
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 (2011-2026)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2011-2026)
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
Profitability has undergone significant swings amid price fluctuations. While revenue has continued to climb, rising purchase costs have cut profit for iron ore miners.
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 2021
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2021
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Industry Multiples (2014-2019)
- Industry Tax Structure (2014-2019)
- Income Statement (2014-2019)
- Balance Sheet (2014-2019)
- Liquidity Ratios (2014-2019)
- Coverage Ratios (2014-2019)
- Leverage Ratios (2014-2019)
- Operating Ratios (2014-2019)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2011-2026)
- Revenue per Employee (2011-2026)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2011-2026)
- Employees per Establishment (2011-2026)
- Employees per Enterprise (2011-2026)
- Average Wage (2011-2026)
- Wages/Revenue (2011-2026)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2011-2026)
- IVA/Revenue (2011-2026)
- Imports/Demand (2011-2026)
- Exports/Revenue (2011-2026)
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 (2011-2026)
- IVA (2011-2026)
- Establishments (2011-2026)
- Enterprises (2011-2026)
- Employment (2011-2026)
- Exports (2011-2026)
- Imports (2011-2026)
- Wages (2011-2026)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Iron Ore Mining in the US industry in United States in 2024?
The market size of the Iron Ore Mining in the US industry in United States is $7.0bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Iron Ore Mining in the US industry in 2021?
There are 18 businesses in the Iron Ore Mining in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 8.4 % between 2016 and 2021.
Has the Iron Ore Mining in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Iron Ore Mining in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 5.9 % between 2016 and 2021.
What is the forecast growth of the Iron Ore Mining in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Iron Ore Mining in the US industry in United States is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Iron Ore Mining in the US market in United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Iron Ore Mining market in United States are Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. and United States Steel Corp
What does the Iron Ore Mining in the US in United States include?
Iron ore mining and Iron ore beneficiating are part of the Iron Ore Mining in the US industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Iron Ore Mining in the US in United States?
The company holding the most market share in United States is Cleveland-Cliffs Inc..
How competitive is the Iron Ore Mining in the US industry in United States?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Iron Ore Mining in the US industry in United States.
Related Industries
Widen your competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Coal Mining in the US
- Iron & Steel Manufacturing in the US
Complementors
- Gold & Silver Ore Mining in the US
- Copper, Nickel, Lead & Zinc Mining in the US
- Molybdenum & Metal Ore Mining in the US
- Stone Mining in the US
International industries
- Global Iron Ore Mining
- Iron Ore Mining in Canada
- Iron Ore Mining in Australia
- Iron Ore Mining in New Zealand
- Iron Ore Mining in China
View all industries in United States
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 the US include:
- US Census Bureau
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- US International Trade Commission
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.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
