How to Get Iron Ore (IRON) prices efficiently using this API

Introduction

In the ever-evolving landscape of metal markets, obtaining accurate and timely data is crucial for developers and businesses alike. This blog post focuses on how to get Iron Ore (IRON) prices efficiently using the Metals-API. With the rise of digital transformation and technological innovation, the Metals-API stands out as a powerful tool for accessing real-time metals data, including Iron Ore prices. This post will explore the capabilities of the Metals-API, its key features, and how it can empower developers to create next-generation applications.

Metals-API Information

About Iron Ore (IRON)

Iron Ore is a fundamental commodity in the global economy, serving as the primary raw material for steel production. As industries increasingly rely on data analytics and insights, the demand for accurate pricing information has surged. The Metals-API provides a comprehensive solution for accessing Iron Ore prices and other metal data, enabling businesses to make informed decisions.

The digital transformation in metal markets has led to significant advancements in how data is collected, analyzed, and utilized. With the integration of smart technology, developers can leverage real-time data to enhance their applications. The Metals-API exemplifies this trend by offering a robust platform for accessing live and historical metal prices, including Iron Ore.

Technological innovation has also paved the way for improved data analytics capabilities. By utilizing the Metals-API, developers can gain insights into market trends, price fluctuations, and historical data, allowing them to forecast future prices and make strategic decisions. As the metal markets continue to evolve, the importance of real-time data and analytics will only grow.

API Description

The Metals-API is a powerful tool that provides developers with access to real-time and historical metal prices. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive documentation, the API allows for seamless integration into various applications. The API's capabilities include retrieving the latest rates, historical data, and conversion functionalities, making it an essential resource for anyone involved in the metal markets.

One of the standout features of the Metals-API is its ability to deliver real-time exchange rate data. Depending on your subscription plan, the API can return updates every 60 minutes, every 10 minutes, or even more frequently. This ensures that developers have access to the most current pricing information, which is vital for making timely decisions in a fast-paced market.

Moreover, the API supports a wide range of endpoints, each designed to cater to specific needs. For instance, the Historical Rates Endpoint allows users to access historical price data dating back to 2019, while the Convert Endpoint enables seamless currency conversions between different metals and currencies. This flexibility makes the Metals-API an invaluable resource for developers looking to build applications that require accurate and timely metal pricing data.

Key Features and Endpoints

The Metals-API offers a variety of endpoints that provide different functionalities, each with its own unique applications. Here are some of the key features:

Latest Rates Endpoint

The Latest Rates Endpoint is designed to deliver real-time exchange rate data for all available metals, including Iron Ore. Depending on your subscription plan, this endpoint can return updates at various intervals, ensuring that you always have the most current pricing information. For example, a typical response might look like this:

{
    "success": true,
    "timestamp": 1760400118,
    "base": "USD",
    "date": "2025-10-14",
    "rates": {
        "IRON": 0.1234,
        "XAU": 0.000482,
        "XAG": 0.03815
    },
    "unit": "per metric ton"
}

Historical Rates Endpoint

The Historical Rates Endpoint allows users to access historical exchange rates for any date since 2019. This is particularly useful for analyzing trends over time and making informed predictions about future prices. A sample response might look like this:

{
    "success": true,
    "timestamp": 1760313718,
    "base": "USD",
    "date": "2025-10-13",
    "rates": {
        "IRON": 0.1200,
        "XAU": 0.000485,
        "XAG": 0.03825
    },
    "unit": "per metric ton"
}

Bid And Ask Endpoint

The Bid and Ask Endpoint provides real-time Bid and Ask prices for metals, allowing developers to understand market dynamics better. This feature is essential for traders who need to make quick decisions based on current market conditions. An example response might be:

{
    "success": true,
    "timestamp": 1760400118,
    "base": "USD",
    "date": "2025-10-14",
    "rates": {
        "IRON": {
            "bid": 0.1220,
            "ask": 0.1240,
            "spread": 0.0020
        }
    },
    "unit": "per metric ton"
}

Convert Endpoint

The Convert Endpoint allows users to convert any amount from one metal to another or to/from USD. This feature is particularly useful for businesses that deal with multiple currencies and need to streamline their transactions. A typical response could be:

{
    "success": true,
    "query": {
        "from": "USD",
        "to": "IRON",
        "amount": 1000
    },
    "info": {
        "timestamp": 1760400118,
        "rate": 0.1234
    },
    "result": 123.4,
    "unit": "metric tons"
}

Time-Series Endpoint

The Time-Series Endpoint allows users to query the API for daily historical rates between two dates of their choice. This is particularly useful for analyzing price trends over specific periods. An example response might look like this:

{
    "success": true,
    "timeseries": true,
    "start_date": "2025-10-07",
    "end_date": "2025-10-14",
    "base": "USD",
    "rates": {
        "2025-10-07": {
            "IRON": 0.1200
        },
        "2025-10-14": {
            "IRON": 0.1234
        }
    },
    "unit": "per metric ton"
}

Fluctuation Endpoint

The Fluctuation Endpoint provides information about how prices fluctuate on a day-to-day basis. This feature is crucial for understanding market volatility and making informed trading decisions. A sample response could be:

{
    "success": true,
    "fluctuation": true,
    "start_date": "2025-10-07",
    "end_date": "2025-10-14",
    "base": "USD",
    "rates": {
        "IRON": {
            "start_rate": 0.1200,
            "end_rate": 0.1234,
            "change": 0.0034,
            "change_pct": 2.83
        }
    },
    "unit": "per metric ton"
}

Open/High/Low/Close (OHLC) Price Endpoint

The OHLC Price Endpoint allows users to query the API for the open, high, low, and close prices for a specific time period. This data is essential for traders who rely on technical analysis. An example response might look like this:

{
    "success": true,
    "timestamp": 1760400118,
    "base": "USD",
    "date": "2025-10-14",
    "rates": {
        "IRON": {
            "open": 0.1200,
            "high": 0.1250,
            "low": 0.1190,
            "close": 0.1234
        }
    },
    "unit": "per metric ton"
}

Historical LME Endpoint

The Historical LME Endpoint provides access to historical rates for LME symbols dating back to 2008. This is particularly useful for businesses that need to analyze long-term trends in metal prices. A sample response could be:

{
    "success": true,
    "timestamp": 1760313718,
    "base": "USD",
    "date": "2025-10-13",
    "rates": {
        "IRON": 0.1200
    },
    "unit": "per metric ton"
}

API Key and Response

Your API Key is the unique key that is passed into the API base URL's access_key parameter. This key is essential for authenticating your requests and ensuring that you have access to the data you need. The API response is delivered in JSON format, with exchange rates typically relative to USD. All data is returned in a structured format, making it easy to parse and utilize in your applications.

List of Symbols

The Metals-API provides access to a comprehensive range of metal symbols. For a complete list of all supported symbols and their specifications, refer to the Metals-API Supported Symbols page. This resource is invaluable for developers looking to integrate multiple metal types into their applications.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Metals-API is a powerful tool for developers seeking to access real-time and historical Iron Ore prices efficiently. With its wide range of endpoints, including the Latest Rates, Historical Rates, and Conversion functionalities, the API empowers businesses to make informed decisions based on accurate data. As the metal markets continue to evolve, leveraging advanced technologies and data analytics will be crucial for staying competitive.

For more information on how to implement the Metals-API in your applications, refer to the Metals-API Documentation. By utilizing this API, developers can unlock the potential of real-time metals data and drive innovation in their applications.