Commodity Origins

Iron ore price history, 1960 to 2026

62% Fe fines, CFR China spot averaged $96.3/dmtu in August 2026, -3% over twelve months and +58% over ten years. The nominal all-time high was $214.4/dmtu in June 2021; in 2024 dollars the real peak was $290.3/dmtu in November 2007. Monthly averages, World Bank Pink Sheet.

Iron ore monthly prices, $/dmtu, Jan 1960 to Aug 2026Line chart of iron ore monthly prices in $/dmtu from Jan 1960 to Aug 2026: 62% Fe fines, CFR China spot from 11.4 to 96.3, peaking at 214.4.05010015020019601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025$/dmtu
62% Fe fines, CFR China spot
Derived price statistics per series
SeriesLatest1 month12 months5 years10 years20 yearsAll-time high (nominal)All-time high (real, 2024 US$)
62% Fe fines, CFR China spot
$/dmtu, since 1960
96.3
August 2026
-2%-3%-41%+58%+38%214.4
June 2021
290.3
November 2007

Percentage changes compare the latest monthly average with the monthly average 1, 12, 60, 120 and 240 months earlier. Real prices deflate by the US consumer price index (BLS via FRED) to 2024 dollars.

Source: World Bank Pink Sheet, 2026-09-02, fetched 6 September 2026 (CC BY 4.0).

Prices are monthly benchmark averages that may lag the market; informational only, not investment, legal or trade advice. For what these benchmarks mean and how they are set, see how iron ore is priced.

Monthly iron ore prices by decade

Choose a decade. Values are monthly averages in the unit shown; blank cells mean no quote was published.

62% Fe fines, CFR China spot ($/dmtu)

62% Fe fines, CFR China spot monthly prices, 2020s, $/dmtu
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAverage
202095.887.78984.793.7103.3108.5121.1123.8119.8124.4155.4108.9
2021169.6163.8168.2179.8207.7214.4214.1162.2124.5122.996.2117161.7
2022132.5142.8152.1151.3131.2130.7108.6108.999.892.693.3111.8121.3
2023122.2127.6128.4117.4105.2113.5114.4110.2121119131.1137.1120.6
2024135.8124.4109.8112.8118.9107.5106.999.992.8101.4100.5102.2109.4
202599.6105.1100.197.29792.397.399.7103.3103.5102.5104.6100.2
2026105.598.8104.5106.1108.6100.898.296.3102.4

Method

Nominal prices are the source's monthly averages in US dollars, stored in the source's unit and never mixed on one chart. Real prices divide each month by the US consumer price index for all urban consumers (BLS series CPIAUCSL, via FRED) and multiply by the 2024 average, so they read as "2024 dollars". Changes are ratios of monthly averages. The all-time high is the highest monthly average, not an intraday peak.

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Cite as: Commodity Origins, "Iron ore price history (1960–2026)", https://commodityorigins.com/prices/iron-ore/, data 2026-09-02. Data updated 6 September 2026.