It is characterized by a high carbon content (typically 3.5–4.5%), which, while making it brittle, serves as the critical high-purity feedstock for steelmaking.

Transforming this carbon-rich material into crude steel through refinement underpins global infrastructure, ensuring a steady supply of high-quality virgin metallic units when scrap availability is limited.

• High Purity Feedstock: Unlike scrap, pig iron is free of "tramp elements" (such as copper or tin), making it essential for high-grade steel applications.
• The Refinement Link: Serves as the primary liquid or solid input for Basic Oxygen Furnaces (BOF) to produce crude steel.
• Value Chain Role: Acts as a strategic material bank for integrated steel mills, balancing the metallic charge for consistent output quality.
  

FAQ on Pig Iron

Q: What is the strategic difference between Pig Iron and Scrap Steel in manufacturing?

A: Pig iron is a "virgin" material with high purity, whereas scrap can contain impurities. For high-end applications such as automotive and precision engineering, pig iron is often preferred to ensure the chemical integrity of the final crude steel.

Q: Why is Pig Iron significant in the context of the Circular Economy?

A: While the Circular Economy prioritizes scrap recycling, pig iron remains essential for "refreshing" the steel cycle. It provides high-quality metallic units necessary to maintain infrastructure performance standards when high-grade scrap is in short supply.