Ferrexpo is ready to meet EU demand for DR pellets – Blonska

Ferrexpo, an iron ore producer listed on the London Stock Exchange and operating in Ukraine, says it is ready to provide European steelmakers with high-quality DR pellets needed to produce green steel. This was reported in an interview with Metal Expert for the conference “Ferrous Metallurgy of Ukraine 2025” by Yaroslavna Blonska, acting Chief Marketing Officer of Ferrexpo.

“We can produce high-quality DR pellets today. And we are ready to offer them to European steelmakers when decarbonization projects start being implemented in 2027-2028,” she said.

According to Blonska, Ferrexpo’s long-standing collaboration with EU customers have enabled the company to significantly enhance quality of its products and align with Europe’s high standards for transparency, accountability, and sustainability.

“We clearly understand the requirements of the European market, from supply chain audits to shared values in sustainable production,” she emphasized.

Despite the current decline in demand in Europe, the company expects a gradual recovery in the second half of 2025. At the same time, Ferrexpo recognizes the increased global competition due to the launch of new iron ore projects around the world.

“The most important thing now is to preserve the European market. We have all the tools for this: long-term contracts, investments in quality, flexible logistics, and, most importantly, the trust of our partners,” Blonska emphasized.

Ferrexpo highlights Ukraine’s strategic importance to the sustainable development of the European steel industry, thanks to its advantageous location and the ability to supply raw materials by barge, rail and sea.

As a reminder, Ferrexpo increased its total commercial production by 20% q/q and 3% y/y – to 2.1 million tons in Q1 2025. This included 1.3 million tons of pellets and 0.8 million tons of high-quality iron ore concentrate with an iron content of 67%.

In 2024, the company produced 489.72 thousand tons of DR pellets, while in 2023 it did not produce such products. Total pellet production increased by 58% year-on-year – to 6.07 million tons.

Ferrexpo is an iron ore company with assets in Ukraine, listed on the London Stock Exchange. The company produces and exports high-quality iron ore pellets for steel production. Its production assets are Poltava and Yeristovo Minings and Belanovo Mining, which is under development (each 100% owned).