TECHNOLOGY & PRODUCTS
Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI)
Leading the way in Hot Briquetted Iron
MIDREX™ Plants supply nearly 90 percent of the world’s HBI production, setting the standard for efficiency and reliability. Since the first HBI plant in Labuan, Malaysia (1984) with long-time partner Köppern, Midrex has continually advanced technology to help steelmakers lower carbon emissions and boost flexibility.
What is HBI?
Hot briquetted iron is one of the iron product forms produced by the MIDREX™ Process. It is made by compacting hot DRI into dense briquettes, creating a product that is well-suited for storage, transport and merchant trade.
After reduction in the MIDREX™ Shaft Furnace, the hot material is discharged and mechanically compacted into pillow-shaped briquettes. This densification reduces the exposed surface area of the iron and lowers its reactivity compared with unbriquetted DRI. No binder is used in the briquetting process.
Virtual tour of our ArcelorMittal Texas HBI plant
ArcelorMittal Texas HBI Virtual Tour
Location: Portland, Texas | Capacity: 2.0 mtpy HBI
Density and handling
The higher density of HBI improves resistance to reoxidation and minimizes losses from fines generation during handling. As a result, HBI can be stored and transported using conventional bulk systems and shipped in compliance with international regulations governing solid bulk cargoes.
HBI is widely used in electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking and can also be charged to blast furnaces and basic oxygen furnaces. Its consistent physical characteristics and predictable behaviour make it a valuable option for producers that require flexibility in sourcing and logistics, including operations that rely on seaborne supply.
HBI for transport and merchant supply
In many projects, HBI is selected where ironmaking and steelmaking are not co-located, or where material must be stored or transported over longer distances. It is also commonly produced for the merchant market, where stability during handling and shipment is a primary consideration.
Multiple iron product forms
The MIDREX™ Process allows iron to be produced in multiple forms, so producers can align the product form with layout, logistics, and operating priorities.
MIDREX Plants are often configured to produce more than one iron product form, or to switch between forms as operating needs change. Within this range, HBI provides a transportable, globally traded iron unit while maintaining the same underlying reduction chemistry, shaft furnace design, and product quality associated with MIDREX technology.
World DRI Statistics
Examine the latest annual data, production figures and global trends in direct reduction.