[SMM Iron & Steel] South Korea’s POSCO to Launch Scrap-Free Direct Steel Plant Trial

Published: Apr 8, 2026 16:24

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South Korean steelmaker POSCO has announced it will begin trial operations of a new pilot plant in July 2026 that utilizes molten phase processing to produce steel directly from iron ore. This revolutionary technology aims to bypass the traditional sintering and pelletizing stages, potentially reducing carbon emissions by 50% compared to traditional blast furnace routes. The success of this trial would allow POSCO to utilize a broader range of domestic and imported low-grade iron ores that were previously unsuitable for high-efficiency steelmaking, significantly impacting global raw material demand patterns.

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