Identifiers
Reduced iron is classified under HS Code 7203.10. This falls under Chapter 72: Iron and steel, specifically Heading 7203 (Ferrous products obtained by direct reduction of iron ore and other spongy ferrous products, in lumps, pellets or the like; iron having a minimum purity of 99.94%, in lumps, pellets or similar forms), under subheading: Ferrous products; obtained by direct reduction of iron ore, in lumps, pellets or similar forms.
* The data below is specific to the HS code, not the ingredient.
Suppliers
568
Across 53 countries
Shipments
4,146
from 2015 to 2026
Total weight
96B kg
7,032 TEU · standard 20-foot container units
Last shipment
6 months ago
Last updated at Feb 25, 2026
Growth
↑ 43%
Trade under 7203.10 has increased by 43% over the past 6 months
Trade activity under HS 7203.10 indicates a large, active supply chain with 568 suppliers, 4,146 shipments, and roughly 96 billion kg moved since mid-2015. However, this is not ingredient-specific; the code covers ferrous products from direct reduction of iron ore, including pig iron and spiegeleisen. The volume and supplier count suggest robust industrial-scale trade, but for reduced iron as a food or supplement ingredient, this data likely overstates relevance. Business implication: treat this as broad iron/steel supply context, not a direct signal for reduced iron ingredient sourcing.
HS 7203.10 covers ferrous products obtained by direct reduction of iron ore, in lumps, pellets, or similar forms, and also includes iron with minimum purity of 99.94% in similar forms. The classification scope is broad, encompassing direct-reduced iron (DRI) and other spongy ferrous products, but it does not specifically isolate reduced iron powder or food-grade material. Limits: the code includes pig iron and spiegeleisen per notes, so not all shipments are reduced iron. For formulation research, this means trade data cannot confirm ingredient purity or grade, requiring additional product-level verification.
| Supplier | Shipments | Top customer | Growth | Last shipment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No suppliers found. | |||||
The supplier landscape appears highly fragmented by count, with 568 suppliers across 53 countries, but concentrated in volume. China alone accounts for 43% of suppliers, yet Brazil, Trinidad, and Ukraine contribute the majority of weight, indicating a few large bulk producers. Selected suppliers show a mix of specialized entities like Hoeganaes (Sweden) and Nu Iron (Trinidad) alongside many general traders and unrelated manufacturers (e.g., footwear, paper). This suggests that while many entities are associated with the HS code, only a few are likely direct reduced iron producers. For procurement, this implies a need to vet suppliers carefully to identify true ingredient manufacturers.
Key supply risks include reliance on a few bulk-producing countries (Brazil, Trinidad, Ukraine) for large volumes, which could create geopolitical or logistical vulnerabilities. The presence of many unrelated suppliers (e.g., footwear, electronics) under the same HS code raises misclassification risk, potentially leading to incorrect supplier identification. Also, some suppliers like Orinoco Iron (Venezuela) are trading entities, not manufacturers, adding intermediary risk. Further diligence should verify each supplier's actual product line, confirm reduced iron grade and purity, and assess country-specific trade stability, especially for Ukraine and Venezuela, which have shown shipment gaps.
China dominates supplier count (245 suppliers, 2,183 shipments) and appears as a major export hub, but Brazil leads in weight (88.5 billion kg) with only 6 suppliers, indicating large-volume bulk shipments. Trinidad and Tobago shows high weight (6.2 billion kg) from just 3 suppliers, suggesting concentrated bulk trade. Other notable lanes include Germany, Japan, and Sweden, with Sweden hosting Hoeganaes-related entities. For sourcing, Brazil and Trinidad likely represent primary bulk DRI lanes, while China offers supplier diversity but smaller average shipment sizes. This suggests a two-tier structure: bulk commodity flows versus diversified trading activity.
By shipment count
China
2,183 shipments
245 suppliers
25.6M kg total weight
Germany
489 shipments
35 suppliers
19.2M kg total weight
Japan
202 shipments
21 suppliers
1.7M kg total weight
Trinidad & Tobago
190 shipments
3 suppliers
6.2B kg total weight
Brazil
159 shipments
6 suppliers
88.5B kg total weight
Italy
128 shipments
35 suppliers
1.1M kg total weight
South Korea
119 shipments
32 suppliers
1.2M kg total weight
Sweden
95 shipments
9 suppliers
4.5M kg total weight
India
94 shipments
26 suppliers
536.8K kg total weight
Taiwan
61 shipments
21 suppliers
143.9K kg total weight