Ferro Alloy

By: E. Suarez

Editor: Tessa Hanna

(Wikimedia_Photo by Celeste)

Ferrous alloys are mixed metals mostly made with iron, but then combined with other elements. Examples of resulting products include steel, titanium, cast iron, and stainless steel. These metals are durable, widely available, and affordable. There are ways to increase these traits, such as heat treatment, marking them as desirable options. 

Import Quantities to the United States 

In 2024, there were 2,935 shipments of ferrous alloys imported into the United States according to the ImportInfo database. These shipments weighed 1,312,337,392 pounds or approximately 656,168 tons, averaging 223.57 tons per shipment. 

Import Quantities to the Port of Baltimore 

In 2024, the Port of Baltimore received 823 shipments of ferrous alloys, totaling 176,664,283 pounds or 88,332 tons. Each shipment averaged 107.33 tons. It would take 8,833 ten-ton dump trucks to transport the 88,332 tons of ferrous alloys the Port of Baltimore receives each year. If those trucks left the port as a convoy, the convoy would stretch from M&T Stadium south along Interstate 95 (I-95) past Washington, D.C., nearly to Quantico, Virginia.

The main exporting ports to Baltimore were Antwerp, Belgium; Pusan, South Korea; and Shanghai, China. Other sources included the United Kingdom, Colombia, Brazil, Spain, India, Germany, and South Africa. The countries shipping the most ferrous alloys were South Korea, Brazil, and China. Ferroalloy types imported through Baltimore in 2024 included ferroboron, high- and low-carbon ferromanganese, ferrochrome, ferrotungsten, ferronickel, ferrophosphorus, and ferrotitanium. 

Ferronickel (Photo by IMSBC)

Types of Ferroalloys 

Ferrochrome (ferrochromium) contains 50–70% chromium and enhances corrosion and heat resistance in steel production. Ferromanganese, particularly high-carbon ferromanganese, is the most widely used ferroalloy globally, improving strength and flexibility. Ferromolybdenum (60–75% molybdenum) enhances corrosion resistance and weldability, while ferronickel (35% nickel) is vital in stainless steel production. Ferrosilicon (15–90% silicon) deoxidizes steel and increases hardness, and ferrotitanium (45–75% titanium) provides high strength and low density. Ferrotungsten—grade A (75–82%) and grade B (70–75%)—is used in high-temperature applications such as aerospace. Ferrovanadium (35–85% vanadium) deoxidizes steel, increasing hardness and impact resistance (BorTec, 2024). 

(Photo by Andrew Silver)

Uses of Ferrous Alloys 

Ferrous alloys like stainless and heat-resistant steels are used to manufacture turbines, boilers, and heat exchangers because of their ability to resist corrosion. Other stainless steels are used in offshore oil and gas rigs. Their high strength-to-weight ratio makes them suitable for aerospace components such as landing gear and engine parts. They are also used in defense systems—armored vehicles, missile systems, and naval vessels—as well as in surgical instruments, food handling equipment, and automotive parts.

(Wikimedia_Photo by FocalPoint)

Ferrous alloys are critical to modern industry, enabling applications across energy, defense, transportation, and construction. The Port of Baltimore plays a key logistical role in receiving and distributing these materials to U.S. manufacturers, strengthening both local and national economies.