In　recent　years,　the　global　dependence　on　iron　ore,　a　vital　strategic　resource,　has　faced　unexpected　disruptions　caused　by　geopolitical　events　and　widespread　health　crises.　This　study　investigates　the　dynamic　evolution　of　the　worldwide　iron　ore　trade　network　from　1991　to　2020　to　provide　trading　nations　with　effective　strategies　for　reducing　supply　disruption　risks.　The　classic　cascade　failure　model　is　modified　to　incorporate　risk　absorption　and　adaptation　capacities,　allowing　it　to　simulate　the　dynamic　spread　of　iron　ore　supply　disruption　risk.　This　approach　improves　the　model　by　considering　a　country＇s　ability　to　reduce　risk　through　alternatives,　production　adjustments,　and　other　measures.　Additionally,　the　redistribution　ratio　is　calibrated　using　both　original　trade　volume　and　key　trade　drivers.　The　results　emphasize　the　importance　of　factors　such　as　urbanization　rate　and　industrial　structure　as　the　main　drivers　of　global　iron　ore　trade.　Furthermore,　the　study　finds　that　supply　disruptions　from　major　exporters　like　Brazil,　Australia,　and　Canada　have　a　significant　impact　on　the　trade　network,　especially　affecting　resources　and　economies　in　eastern　and　south-eastern　Asia　and　Europe　due　to　geographic　trade　constraints.　To　ensure　the　stability　of　global　iron　ore　trade,　the　study　proposes　effective　strategies,　providing　valuable　policy　insights　for　various　nations.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd