Plants with Midrex technology produced 76 million tons of DRI in 2023

Global production of direct reduced iron (DRI) using Midrex technology reached 76 million tons in 2023, up 3.3% from 2022. This is stated in the report of Midrex Technologies.

DRI production by Midrex plants (excluding Russia and Iran) amounted to 41.64 million tons, and in these countries – 34.36 million tons. In 2023, the technology will account for about 80% of global DRI production. At the same time, at least 9 plants set new annual records, and another 9 set monthly records.

Midrex’s Venezuelan plants operated at reduced capacity, while ArcelorMittal Point Lisas in Trinidad, ArcelorMittal in South Africa, Delta Steel in Nigeria, ESISCO in Egypt, Lion DRI in Malaysia, and NSCL National Steel Complex Ltd in Pakistan did not operate last year due to unfavorable market conditions.

At the same time, the company’s 1.6 million tpa Cleveland Cliffs plant in Toledo, Ohio, operated at 6% above its rated capacity. ArcelorMittal’s Texas facility also set a new annual record. ArcelorMittal’s Canadian plant recorded a record number of operating hours.

As GMK Center reported earlier, global direct reduced iron production in 2023 increased by 7.4% compared to 2022 to 135.51 million tonnes from 126.16 million tonnes a year earlier. India accounted for more than 36% of the total DRI production – 49.33 million tons. Iran produced 33.45 million tons of DRI, Russia – 7.78 million tons, Egypt – 7.22 million tons, Russia – 7.78 million tons, Saudi Arabia – 6.82 million tons.

In the first quarter of 2024, global DRI production increased by 7.4% compared to the same period in 2023 to 28.09 million tons. India accounted for 4.23 million tons of DRI production during the month. In March of this year, 13 countries producing direct reduced iron produced 9.56 million tons of the product. The figure increased by 9.4% compared to February this year and decreased by 4.8% compared to March 2023.