Navai state mining institute the mining faculty independent work

Iron: 4.6 billion tonnes

The 4.6 billion tonnes of iron produced in 2016 includes iron ore and crude iron, two minerals whose production has been trending in opposite direction.

Global iron ore production has increased from 2.9 billion tonnes in 2012 to 3.3 billion tonnes in 2016, peaking at 3.38 billion in 2014. Crude iron production, however, has consistently declined from 1.24 billion tonnes in 2013 to 1.23 billion tonnes in 2016, peaking, like iron ore, in 2014 at 1.26 billion tonnes.

Iron remains critical to industry and construction, as its role in the production of steel and concrete means it accounts for 90% of all refined metal. However, falling ore grades and high production costs have contributed to a decline in production in some of the world’s largest iron-producing countries, with South Africa, the US and China all reporting lower production figures in 2012, compared with 2012.

Brazil and Australia, meanwhile, have seen production increase, with companies investing in new mines to replace older ones. In June, BHP approved a 4bn iron ore project in Western Australia, which will begin production in 2021, to replace the 80 million tpa Yandi mine.