Approximately 6 million metric tons of HBI was shipped from a producer to a buyer while the remainder was produced and consumed internally. Essar Steel of India, the largest producer of HBI in 2009 with 4.2 million metric tons, kept all of its production for use in the company’s own steel operations, according to HBIA.

The production and shipment figures are based on all direct reduction plants capable of HBI production (i.e., dedicated HBI plants and combination hot/cold discharge plants with HBI capability), according to HBIA.

Producers in Russia and Venezuela accounted for nearly 4.8 million metric tons of the production total. Steelmakers in Asia (including India) received the largest percentage of HBI shipments in 2009. Nearly 2.7 million metric tons of HBI, representing 45 percent of total shipments, went to Asia, says HBIA.

Europe (including Russia and CIS countries) was the destination for slightly more than 1.6 million metric tons of HBI (27 percent of total shipments). South America accounted for 867,000 metric tons (14 percent), primarily as domestic shipments within Venezuela. The Middle East and North Africa received 500,000 metric tons (8 percent) and North America, for many years the leading importer of HBI, dropped to only 365,000 metric tons imported in 2009 (6 percent).

HBIA is a not-for-profit, international corporation whose purpose is to promote HBI as a steelmaking metallic unit. HBIA members include major producers and exporters of HBI; suppliers of process technologies, equipment, materials, and services to the HBI industry; traders and brokers involved in buying and selling HBI; and individuals who have made notable contributions to the fields of direct reduction technology and HBI production and use. 

Source from:www.hbia.org