Iron Operations In The United States In 2023

This table provides a comprehensive overview of iron-related operations across various states in the United States during 2023, detailing key metrics such as production capacity, actual production, and reserves for each facility. The data encompasses a range of primary product types including hot-briquetted iron, direct-reduced iron, iron ore pellets, and iron ore concentrates. This information is crucial for understanding the domestic iron supply chain, which supports the steel manufacturing industry—a backbone of infrastructure, automotive, and construction sectors. Tracking production and reserves helps gauge the sustainability of iron supply, informs economic planning, and guides investment decisions in the mining and metallurgical industries.

Analysis of the 2023 data reveals that Michigan’s Tilden Mine, operated by Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., leads in production with 8.1 million metric tons, exceeding its capacity of 7.1 million metric tons, and holds substantial reserves of 490 million metric tons. Minnesota hosts several significant mines, with Minntac Mine producing 13 million metric tons—its highest output among the state’s operations—and maintaining 254 million metric tons in reserves. Notably, Northshore Mining and United Taconite Mine in Minnesota report large reserves of 820 and 757 million metric tons, respectively, despite lower production levels of 3.1 and 5.0 million metric tons. Smaller-scale operations such as Indiana’s Iron Dynamics and Louisiana’s Nucor Steel Louisiana LLC focus on iron metallics rather than ore mining, with production figures of 0.3 and 2.0 million metric tons, respectively. The acquisition of the Texas HBI facility by ArcelorMittal in late 2022 is reflected in its 1.7 million metric tons production, indicating ongoing consolidation in the industry. Overall, the data underscores the continued dominance of the Lake Superior region in iron ore production and reserves, while highlighting the diversification of iron products across the country.