Mid-East tension poses risks to global DRI supply

For now, any direct impact on global iron ore supply from the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East seems limited, as Mysteel Global reported. However, concerns about disruptions caused by the geopolitical crisis to the supply of direct reduced iron (DRI), an important raw material for low-carbon steelmaking, are growing.

The Middle East, including countries such as Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, is a key hub in the global DRI market. In 2024, the region produced 49.9 million tonnes of DRI, accounting for nearly 35% of global DRI output, according to statistics from the World Steel Association (WSA). The