FERROALLOYS
Statistical Compendium
This publication includes data through 1990.
For recent statistics, please go the the Ferroalloys Statistics and Information page.
Ferroalloys impart distinctive qualities to steel and cast
iron and serve important functions during iron and steel production
cycles. The principal ferroalloys are those of chromium,
manganese, and silicon. Manganese, used to neutralize the harmful
effect of sulfur and as an alloying element, is essential to the
production of virtually all steels and is also important to the
production of cast iron. Chromium adds corrosion resistance to
stainless steels. Silicon is used primarily for the deoxidation of
steel and as an alloying element in cast iron. Boron, cobalt,
columbium, copper, molybdenum, nickel, phosphorus, titanium,
tungsten, vanadium, zirconium, and the rare earths are among the
other elements contributing to the character of the various alloy
steels and cast irons. Most of these elements are normally added
to the molten metal as a ferroalloy.
Ferroalloys and related materials are essential to the
production of many metals and alloys, including aluminum, iron, and
steel. The domestic ferroalloys industry has been in a state of
decline since its peak production years in the early 1970's because
of decreased demand and competition from low-priced imports. Since
that time, many U.S. producers have gone out of business, leaving
the domestic ferroalloy industry a lean but surviving element of
the country's industrial base.
- Table 1.--Ferroalloys produced and shipped from furnaces in the United States
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U.S. Geological Survey
Minerals Information
983 National Center
Reston, VA 20192 USA
Commodity Specialist: Michael Fenton (mfenton@usgs.gov)
URL:
http://minerals.er.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/ferroalloys/stat/
Maintained by: jgambogi@usgs.gov
Last modification: 10/09/98
(JG)
