Sponge Iron

Sponge Iron is used as a raw material for making steel in electric arc furnaces and induction furnaces, substituting and supplementing the previously used scrap. It is produced by reducing iron ore without melting it. This makes for an energy-efficient feedstock for steel manufacturing industries which earlier used to rely upon scrap metal. Sponge iron is increasing being used in steel making because of lower availability of scrap in the international market and increased use of electric arc furnaces in steel making. Sponge iron can also be processed further to create wrought iron. In India, there is high demand for sponge iron because of its use in steel production. India is the largest producer of sponge iron in the world today