Vertically Integrated Raw Materials for Cleaner Steel
As a vertically integrated iron and steel producer, Cliffs differentiates itself from others in the steel industry since we internally produce in the United States the majority of the raw materials we use in the steelmaking process. Our production of high-quality ferrous raw materials, including iron ore pellets, HBI and prime scrap, enables us to supply a wide portfolio of high-quality grades and specialty steel products sustainably and consistently. We have the unique advantage as a steel producer of being fully self-sufficient in iron ore pellets, including standard pellets; fluxed pellets; and low-silica direct reduction (DR) grade pellets.
Our pellets are mined in Michigan and Minnesota and used in our cleaner pellet-based blast furnace production across the Great Lakes region and HBI production in Ohio. Pellets are 85% less CO2-intensive than sinter ores. Additionally, with our acquisition of FPT, we now operate scrap facilities throughout North America. The security of our raw material sourcing reassures our customers their supply of Cleveland-Cliffs’ steel will not be impacted by supply chain disruptions of raw materials such as imported pig iron and direct reduced iron, or shortages of prime scrap.