Iron Ore Lump

Iron ore fines are the most traded seaborne iron ore product, with particle sizes below 6.3mm. They are sintered before being charged into blast furnaces for pig iron production. The benchmark Platts IODEX (62% Fe CFR China) is the global reference price for iron ore fines.

Iron ore pellets are spherical agglomerates of fine ore concentrate, hardened in kilns at 1,200-1,350 degrees Celsius. They offer superior blast furnace performance with higher iron content (65-67% Fe), better reducibility, and uniform size. DR-grade pellets feed direct reduction plants for DRI/HBI production.

Bauxite is the primary ore of aluminum, processed through the Bayer process to produce alumina, which is then smelted into aluminum. Guinea and Australia hold the largest reserves. Bauxite quality is determined by available alumina content, reactive silica, and moisture levels.

Chrome ore (chromite) is the sole commercial source of chromium, essential for stainless steel production via ferro chrome. South Africa controls over 70% of global chromite reserves. Ore grades are classified by Cr2O3 content, with metallurgical grade (40%+ Cr2O3) commanding the highest prices.

Spodumene is the most important hard-rock lithium mineral, containing up to 8% Li2O. It is converted into lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate for use in electric vehicle batteries and energy storage. Australian spodumene concentrates (SC6, ~6% Li2O) dominate seaborne trade.

Cobalt is a critical metal for lithium-ion battery cathodes (NMC, NCA chemistries) and superalloy applications in jet engines. The Democratic Republic of Congo produces over 70% of global cobalt, raising ethical sourcing concerns. LME and Fastmarkets MB provide benchmark pricing.