Metal Ore Mining
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 256 metal ore producers in the US are primarily engaged in developing mine sites, extracting ores (metal-bearing rock), and processing it to extract the desired metals, including iron ore (hematite, magnetite, siderite, taconite), precious metals (gold, silver, platinum), copper, nickel, lead, zinc, uranium, radium and vanadium ores, and other metals. Extraction processes include dressing (picking, sorting, washing of ores), milling (crushing, grinding), and beneficiation (processing to improve purity or quality).
Environmental Compliance
Metal ore producers are directly impacted by a wide range of environmental regulations that affect the permitting, operation, and reclamation of mining sites.
Talent Shortage
As the US looks to boost its domestic stocks of critical metals and minerals required for the green energy transition, the mining industry is facing a major shortage of talent.
Industry size & Structure
The average metal ore mining company operates out of one to two locations, has about $105 million in annual revenue, and employs fewer than 50 workers.
- The metal ore mining industry includes 256 firms that employ 44,000 workers and generate $27 billion in annual revenue.
- Most companies operate only one or two mine sites at a time due to the large capital investment in equipment needed for extraction and processing.
- Major industry segments include mining and processing iron ore, gold and silver ore, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc.
- The industry is highly concentrated: the top 20 companies account for 94% of annual revenue.
- Large companies with operations in the US include ArcelorMittal, Hibbing Taconite Company, Cliffs Minnesota Mining Co., Barrick Gold, Newmont Corp., and Freeport-McMoRan. These companies may be vertically integrated with mining and steelmaking operations and mines outside the US.
- Minnesota produces most of the iron ore mined in the US. Almost all iron ore (98%) is used to make steel.
Industry Forecast
Metal Ore Mining Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Nov 16, 2024 - Record Producer Prices
- Producer prices for metal ore mining firms rose to a new high in September, jumping 17.1% compared to a year ago after rising 2.6% in the previous September-versus-September annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Employment by the industry was unchanged in October year over year, while average wages at mining firms inched up 0.6% in September to $35.17 per hour, BLS data show. The producer price index for metal ore mining firms is up 57% over the past five years on rising demand for metals amid concerns of supply disruptions for some key metals.
- On the heels of Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, gold prices posted their biggest daily decline in more than three years, Morningstar reports. After soaring to new highs in 2024, the price of an ounce of gold dropped by $77.10, or 2.9%, to $2,617.70 on November 11, and sank further to $2,586.50 on November 13. With the election over, the markets are "unwinding the political-uncertainty trade," Peter Grant, VP and senior metals strategist at Zaner Metals, told Morningstar. With the Republican party firmly in charge and poised to enact its conservative economic policies, gold – a safe-haven asset – has lost its luster. However, “the long-term gold forecast remains bullish in light of ongoing rate cuts by central banks,” according to Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at City Index and Forex.com. Lower interest rates can be supportive for non-interest-yielding gold.
- According to Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) data, 2024 is on track to be a record-low year for mining fatalities. As of mid-August, there were 13 fatalities at US mines, seven of which took place at coal mines and six at metal/nonmetal operations. Six of the last seven mining fatalities overall took place at coal mines, according to the agency. Of the six fatalities at metal/nonmetal operations, two occurred at sand and gravel operations, with the other four occurring at a variety of sites, including shale, crushed/broken limestone, crushed/broken stone, and phosphate rock mines. By state, West Virginia counted the most mining fatalities so far this year, with three, all in coal mines. The all-time low for mining fatalities in a single year was 25 in 2016, according to MSHA.
- Weak global demand and declining prices for steel are putting pressure on producers’ margins, Fitch Ratings reported in September. Steel prices – an indicator of demand for iron ore – have been falling in 2024 across all key regions. In the US, the price of hot rolled coil steel used in construction was down 66% in July versus its peak in September 2021, while the price for rebar was down 33% from its peak in June 2022, according to Fitch. The ratings agency expects prices to start recovering in 2025-2026 to varying degrees, depending on the region.
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