Products

Not all iron ore is created equal. The highest quality and most important iron ores for steelmaking are magnetite (Fe3O4) and hematite (Fe2O3). Hematite is the higher-quality ore and the preferred raw material in the steelmaking process and accounts for approximately 95% of South Africa’s iron ore production.

Kumba has abundant, high-grade hematite deposits at both its Sishen and Thabazimbi mines, which enables the company to offer products with superior physical properties that minimise undersize and enhance reducibility in the steelmaking process. Overall Kumba’s iron ore reserves grade 65,2% Fe, but it also produces two unique lump ore products grading 66% Fe. The geology and unique characteristics of the Kumba ore results in less breakdown, even with extensive handling, and a low amount of undersize material when delivered to the customer. Our customers receive the direct benefit of a larger fraction of valuable lump ore, with the lower-value fine ore being screened out, less dust during handling, and less fines generation in the top of the blast furnace. All these factors contribute towards creating more efficient feed to the blast furnaces. Steel producers especially desire iron ore of consistent quality and physical characteristics as variations in iron ore quality increase costs. With increasingly finer lump ore products entering the market, due to decreasing iron ore reserve quality, the physical properties of Kumba’s iron ore add considerable value to these producers.

Even Kumba’s fine ore is blended and is coarser than other sinter fines products. This fine ore counters the increasing supply of finer sinter feed into the market, with one Australian iron ore consultant stating that “Kumba’s fine ore is regarded as the best sintering ore on the market”.