Direct-Reduced Iron: World Production, By Country Or Locality

This table presents global production figures of direct-reduced iron (DRI) by country or locality over the five-year period from 2019 to 2023, measured in thousand metric tons. DRI is a critical raw material used primarily in steelmaking, produced by reducing iron ore without melting, which offers energy efficiency and lower carbon emissions compared to traditional blast furnace methods. Tracking production volumes by country provides valuable insights into the supply dynamics of the steel industry, informs trade and investment decisions, and helps assess shifts in industrial capacity and technological adoption worldwide.

Analysis of the data reveals that global DRI production has steadily increased from 111 million metric tons in 2019 to an estimated 136 million metric tons in 2023. India remains the dominant producer, with output rising from 36.8 million metric tons in 2019 to nearly 49.6 million metric tons in 2023, reflecting a strong upward trend driven by domestic steel demand. Iran also shows consistent growth, increasing production from 28.5 million metric tons to 33.4 million metric tons over the same period. Noteworthy is Egypt’s significant rise from 4.4 million metric tons in 2019 to over 7.2 million metric tons in 2023, indicating expanding industrial activity. Conversely, Indonesia’s production has effectively ceased since 2020. Other countries such as the United States and Saudi Arabia have shown moderate increases, with U.S. production rising from 3.0 million metric tons to 5.5 million metric tons, and Saudi Arabia from 5.8 million to 6.8 million metric tons. Some countries, including Germany and Venezuela, have experienced declines, with Germany’s output dropping sharply to an estimated 200 thousand metric tons in 2023 from 470 thousand metric tons in 2019. Overall, the data highlights a global expansion in DRI production, concentrated primarily in Asia and the Middle East, underscoring shifting centers of steel production and resource utilization.