Standard & General markets high-quality iron ore to steel manufacturers worldwide; China, which currently makes about half of the world's steel, is the world's biggest consumer of iron ore, the critical steelmaking commodity. ​

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Iron is one of the world's most widely used metals, and it is used mainly to make steel, often in combination with ferroalloys. Steel is an alloy made using iron with carbon to improve its strength and fracture resistance; sometimes, steel contains other elements.

Steel's high tensile strength and low cost mean that it is used in tools, ships, automobiles, machines, appliances, and weapons. Steel rebar and structural steel are used in buildings and infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and railways.

Meanwhile, stainless steel can be rolled into sheets, plates, bars, wire, and tubing to be used in cookware, cutlery, medical equipment, surgical instruments, domestic appliances, construction material in buildings, industrial equipment; and tankers and storage tanks for chemicals and food products.

Stainless steel's corrosion resistance, the ease with which it can be steam cleaned and sterilized with no need for surface coatings have also influenced its use in food processing plants and commercial kitchens.