Iron Ore Pellets (high grade)`

Description

1. Product Overview
Iron Ore Pellets (High Grade) are premium, spherical agglomerates of fine iron ore concentrate, produced through a controlled thermal induration process. They serve as the primary ferrous feedstock for blast furnaces (BF) and direct reduction (DR) plants in steelmaking. The key value proposition is superior metallurgical performance: high iron (Fe) content, low gangue (silica/alumina), and optimal mechanical strength, enabling increased steel yield and reduced energy consumption per ton. Strategically, these pellets are critical as steelmakers transition toward lower-carbon processes, given their compatibility with hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI) technologies.

2. Key Specifications & Technical Characteristics

• Chemical Composition:

  • Fe (total): 65% – 68% (dry basis)

  • SiO₂: 2.0% – 4.5% (depending on source)

  • Al₂O₃: ≤ 1.2%

  • P: ≤ 0.03%

  • S: ≤ 0.01%

  • Loss on Ignition (LOI): ≤ 1.0%

• Purity / Grade: High-Grade DR-Grade / BF-Grade (ISO 11323 compliant)

• Physical Characteristics:

  • Form: Spherical pellets

  • Color: Dark gray to black

  • Pellet size: 10–16 mm (typical); 6–20 mm range

  • Bulk density: 2.2 – 2.4 t/m³

  • Apparent density: 3.4 – 3.6 g/cm³

  • Compression strength: ≥ 250 kg/pellet (ISO 4700)

  • Tumble index (TI): ≥ 94% (ISO 3271)

  • Reduction disintegration index (RDI): ≤ 15%

• Packaging Options: Bulk vessel cargo (no packaging per se); sampling reports provided per 5,000 MT sub-lot. Upon request: 1.5 MT big bags for specialty mills.

• Shelf Life: Indefinite when stored in dry, protected conditions. Avoid prolonged exposure to moisture.

3. Core Industrial Applications

• Primary Industry: Steel manufacturing (integrated and mini-mills)

• Specific Use Cases:

  • Blast furnace burden (30–50% pellet ratio, up to 100% in some high-efficiency furnaces)

  • Direct Reduction (DRI) plants for producing feed for electric arc furnaces (EAF)

  • Hydrogen-based steelmaking trials (low gangue essential for green H₂-DRI)

• Performance Advantage vs. Alternatives (sinter / lump ore):

  • Higher iron unit yield per ton charged → lower slag volume

  • Uniform size and shape → better gas permeability in furnace

  • Lower reduction degradation → fewer fines, less dust loss

  • Energy savings: ~10–15% lower coke consumption per ton of hot metal

  • CO₂ reduction potential: Essential for DR-grade routes, enabling up to 40% less direct emissions versus sinter-based blast furnace

4. Competitive Advantages

• Quality Consistency: ISO-certified process control; each shipment includes certified mill test reports (MTR) with lot-specific chemistry and physicals.

• Supply Reliability: Long-term off-take agreements with tier-1 mining houses; ability to ship 150,000+ MT per month via Capesize or Panamax vessels.

• Logistics Capability: Pre-cleared major export ports (Brazil, Sweden, Canada); real-time vessel tracking and just-in-time delivery options for integrated mills.

• Price Competitiveness: Transparent index-linked pricing (Platts IODEX, TSI) with hedging flexibility and multi-year volume discounts.

• Sustainability Benefits: Low silica/alumina reduces slag formation and lime consumption; eligible for green steel certification pathways if paired with renewable energy in reduction.

• Technical Support: Dedicated metallurgical advisory team for furnace optimization, burden calculation modeling, and DRI plant trials.

5. Commercial & Supply Information

• Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ): 20,000 MT (one Panamax partial cargo)

• Bulk Loading Capacity per shipment: Up to 180,000 MT (Capesize vessel) / 75,000 MT (Panamax vessel)

• Capacity per 20-ft container: Not applicable – bulk dry bulk shipping only. For big bag option: 20–22 MT per 20-ft flat-rack container (with liner bag), but not standard.