According to the Mineral Industry Survey released by the US Geological Survey (USGS), US iron ore production in the first quarter of this year is estimated to be 12.5 million mt, decreasing by 11 percent compared to the fourth quarter last year and down two percent compared to the first quarter of 2012.
In the whole of 2012, the revised iron ore production in the US had totaled 52.2 million mt, falling approximately three percent compared to the previous year.