The product produced at the plant is hot-briquetted iron (HBI), a premium, compacted form of direct reduced iron (DRI) developed to overcome issues associated with handling and shipping the material to steelmaking plants where it’s used to supplement scrap in the melting process. In April of 2022, ArcelorMittal acquired an 80% share of the business located in Portland, Texas near Corpus Christi, as part of its strategy to strengthen and grow its presence in North America. The operation plays an important role in expanding the company’s made-and-melted capabilities the United States.
ArcelorMittal Texas HBI is a state-of-the-art direct reduction plant that is one of the largest of its kind in the world, with an annual capacity of 2Mt of HBI.
What is HBI?
Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) is a premium form of DRI (Direct Reduced Iron) that has been compacted at a temperature greater than 650° C at time of compaction and has a density greater than 5,000 kilograms per cubic meter (5,000 kg/m3). The product is made from direct reduction iron ore pellets and offers predictable and homogenous metallurgical properties and is therefore used as a perfect feed material for production of demanding steel grades.
HBI was developed as a product to overcome the problems associated with shipping and handling of DRI - due to the process of compaction it is very much less porous and therefore very much less reactive than DRI and does not suffer from the risk of self-heating associated with DRI.
HBI from ArcelorMittal Texas is distinguished by low residual levels (Cu, Cr, Ni, Mo, Sn) as well as favorably low phosphorous and sulfur levels. Additional carbon in the HBI and a low fines content contribute to an improved yield in your EAF operation.