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SITCSection 2
U.S. imports of iron ore & concentrates, not agglomerated (SITC 28150) totaled $183K in April 2026, traded with 2 countries.
Iron Ore & Concentrates, Not Agglomerated imports of $183K in April 2026 ran 52% below the year-to-date monthly average of $380K.
Last updated: April 2026 dataNon-agglomerated iron ore and concentrates — including fines and beneficiated concentrates that have not been sintered, pelletized, or otherwise bound into a formed product — are the primary raw material input for blast furnace and direct-reduction steelmaking. Iron content, silica and alumina gangue levels, moisture, and particle size distribution are the commercial specification parameters that determine pricing and suitability for a given furnace burden. Global seaborne trade in iron ore is dominated by a small number of major mining jurisdictions, and US import volumes under this heading reflect supplemental sourcing rather than primary supply, given domestic production capacity.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
Iron content — typically expressed as percentage Fe — is the primary pricing driver for iron ore concentrates. Higher-grade material (generally above 65% Fe) commands a premium because it reduces coke consumption and slag volume in the blast furnace. Importers and steel mills negotiate grade, moisture, and penalty elements (silica, alumina, phosphorus, sulfur) in the purchase contract, and independent inspection at load port and discharge port is standard practice to settle any grade disputes.
Non-agglomerated iron ore includes natural lump ore and beneficiated fines or concentrates that have not been thermally or mechanically bound together. Once fines are sintered, pelletized, or briquetted into a formed product, they shift to the agglomerated iron ore heading. The physical form at the time of importation — not the intended downstream use — determines the correct classification, so importers should confirm the production method with the supplier.
| Country | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| INDONESIA | -- | $9.6M | +$9.6M |
| SOUTH AFRICA | $183K | -- | -$183K |
| AUSTRALIA | -- | -- | -- |
| CANADA | -- | -- | -- |
Monthly import values over time
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