Market Demand for Iron Ore Pellets in Global Steelmaking
Iron ore pellets are small, spherical balls of iron ore concentrate that serve as a vital raw material in steelmaking. These pellets are typically 8–18 mm in diameter and are made by agglomerating iron ore fines with a binder like bentonite clay, followed by thermal treatment in a pelletizing plant.
The key reason for pelletizing iron ore is to improve the efficiency of the steelmaking process. Raw iron ore fines are unsuitable for direct use in blast furnaces or direct reduction (DR) units due to their fine size, which causes issues with airflow and reactivity. Pellets provide the right physical and metallurgical properties to support optimal furnace performance.
There are two main types of iron ore pellets:
Blast Furnace (BF) Pellets: Used in traditional steelmaking via blast furnaces.
Direct Reduction (DR) Pellets: Used in direct reduced iron (DRI) plants, typically powered by natural gas or hydrogen.
Advantages of Iron Ore Pellets:
Higher iron content (typically 64–72%)
Uniform size and shape
Better permeability in furnaces
Lower emissions during processing compared to sintered ore
As the world shifts towards cleaner steel production, pellets, particularly DR-grade pellets, are gaining attention due to their compatibility with hydrogen-based DRI processes. In this way, iron ore pellets are not just a raw material—they are central to the global decarbonization efforts in metallurgy.