An　iron　resource　efficiency　is　proposed　to　define　a　measure　of　the　natural　iron　resources　saved　in　the　steel　manufacturing　process.　A　simplified　iron　flow　diagram　is　presented　for　the　steel　manufacturing　process.　The　influences　of　various　deviations　in　iron　flow　from　the　simplified　iron　flow　diagram　on　iron　resource　efficiency　are　analyzed.　The　relationships　between　iron　resource　efficiency　of　unit　processes　and　the　final　product　are　also　discussed.　As　an　example,　data　from　a　steel　plant　are　used　to　analyze　the　influence　of　iron　flow　on　its　iron　resource　efficiency　of　finial　product　in　the　steel　manufacturing　process,　the　influence　of　iron　resource　efficiency　of　unit　process　on　iron　resource　efficiency　of　the　final　product,　and　give　some　measures　to　improve　the　iron　resource　efficiency　of　the　steel　manufacturing　process.　(C)　2011　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.