The world's total direct reduced iron (DRI) production in 2011 reached 73.3 million mt, setting another new record for the industry, according to data compiled by the international process engineering and technology company, Midrex Technologies, Inc. The report shows that global DRI production was 70.4 million mt in 2010 and 64.4 million mt in 2009.
According to Midrex Technologies, gas-based reduction grew by seven percent from 52.3 million mt in 2010 to 55.9 million mt in 2011, while coal-based reduction by rotary kiln processes shrank by five percent from 18.1 million mt to 17.3 million mt. The latter is related to the slowdown in India where the great majority of rotary kiln plants are located.
In 2011, significant DRI production increases were observed in the UAE, in Venezuela, in Mexico and in Russia. However, India, still the number one nation for DRI making in 2011, saw its DRI production decrease in the given year. The country's DRI output was 22 million tons in 2011, down from 23.4 million mt recorded in the previous year. Midrex Technologies commented that India's drop in production was due to the slowing of the general economic growth that has been developing for years and to the lack of iron ore caused by governmental restrictions on mining.
Second place in global DRI production was again taken by Iran with 10.4 million mt. The next three were Mexico, with 5.9 million mt, Saudi Arabia and Russia. These five countries produced more than two-thirds of the world's supply of DRI in 2011.