According to the Mineral Industry Survey released by the US Geological Survey, US iron ore production in the Q1 of this year is estimated to be 12.5 million tonnes decreasing by 11% compared to the Q4 last year and down 2% compared to the Q1 of 2012.

In the whole of 2012, the revised iron ore production in the US had totaled 52.2 million tonnes falling approximately three percent compared to the previous year.