OREANDA-NEWS. On February 01, 2007 Metalloinvest signed long-term contracts to supply 80% of Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) total output in 2008, reported the press-centre of Metalloinvest.

After setting up the second HBI production line at Lebedinsky GOK the company intends to increase HBI production capacity by 1,4 million tones up to 2,4 million tones. 

The contracts are signed with the largest international metallurgical enterprises. Monthly quantity of shipments to Corus (the Netherlands) will make up 25 thousand tones in 2008. In addition the company considers increasing the purchase volume of raw materials. Metalloinvest will also supply HBI to US Steel (Slovakia), ABS and Luccini (Italy).

Besides the Holding plans to deliver iron-ore briquettes in 2008 within memorandums to Iran (approximately 15 thousand tones per month), Korea (20 thousand tones) and Ukraine (40 thousand tones).  Presently Metalloinvest is negotiating iron ore raw materials sales to Japan and Vietnam.