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Ores, Slag and Ash
Sell offers and buy requests for Ores, Slag and Ash, posted by companies and agreed directly between them.
About Ores, Slag and Ash trade
This group covers metal ores and the by-products of metal making: iron ore, bauxite, alumina, manganese, chrome, nickel and copper ores and concentrates, and slag. Buyers are steel mills, aluminium and alloy producers and smelters. These are among the largest dry bulk cargoes in the world, bought on long-term contracts and on the spot market.
Products
Iron Ore (Fines, Lump, Pellets) · Bauxite · Alumina · Manganese Ore · Chrome Ore · Nickel Ore · Copper Ore / Concentrates · Clinker · Slag (GGBFS)
Bulk Ores, Slag and Ash offers: FOB, CFR and CIF terms available
Country guides: Iron ore suppliers
Who trades Ores, Slag and Ash in the world
Looking at the 9 products of this group together, the largest exporting countries in 2024 were Australia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and the largest importing countries were China, Japan, South Korea, India. Open a product to see the figures for that product alone.
| Top exporting countries | Trade value |
|---|---|
| Australia | USD 100.6 billion |
| Brazil | USD 42.2 billion |
| Chile | USD 31 billion |
| Peru | USD 20.5 billion |
| South Africa | USD 15.3 billion |
| Indonesia | USD 10.8 billion |
| Top importing countries | Trade value |
|---|---|
| China | USD 198.7 billion |
| Japan | USD 24.2 billion |
| South Korea | USD 12.8 billion |
| India | USD 6.5 billion |
| Germany | USD 4.5 billion |
| Malaysia | USD 3.1 billion |
Source: OEC (BACI/CEPII), 2024. Sums of the main trading countries of each product in the group; by every mode of transport, not only by sea.
How Ores, Slag and Ash is shipped
Ores travel in bulk carriers. Iron ore and bauxite move in Capesize and Panamax ships, smaller ores in Supramax or Handysize ships. Ore cargoes can liquefy if their moisture is too high, so ships may only load them with a valid moisture certificate.
What buyers and sellers compare
The key terms are the metal content (for example iron percentage), moisture, impurities such as phosphorus and silica, the size of lumps or fines and the origin. The cargo is sampled and assayed at loading by an independent surveyor.
When the terms are agreed, you can explore suitable vessels on Shipfixing.
Questions about Ores, Slag and Ash
What does iron ore content mean?
It is the percentage of iron in the ore, for example 62 percent, and it is the main basis of the price and the contract.
Why is moisture important for ore cargoes?
Some ores can behave like a liquid at sea if they contain too much moisture, which is dangerous for the ship. Cargo moisture limits and certificates therefore apply.