Iran Billet Production Methods: Induction Furnace vs Electric Arc Furnace

This article helps procurement managers, buyers, and technical decision-makers evaluate Iran billet production, billet production method choices — focusing on the practical differences between Induction Furnace (IF) and Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) and how those differences affect cost, quality, delivery reliability, and contract terms.

For buyers sourcing semi-finished steel from Iran, understanding the production route is a commercial necessity. At its core, the choice between Induction Furnace (IF) and Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) affects chemical consistency, inclusion content, minimum order sizes, delivery predictability, and ultimately your total landed cost. This article provides a buyer-focused analysis, practical checklists you can add to an RFQ, and negotiation tips based on real-world experience. If your priority is flexibility and small trial lots, IF suppliers often serve that need. If your priority is consistency, scale, and predictable unit pricing over large volumes, EAF producers are typically the better match.

Whether you are contacting an Iran billet supplier for a pilot lot or negotiating an annual contract with an Iran billet exporter, knowing the production route will guide your technical and commercial terms.

The melt route determines everything that comes after: chemical homogeneity, non-metallic inclusion content, dimensional consistency, and how predictable a supplier’s delivery schedule will be. For downstream mills—re-rollers, forging shops, and structural fabricators—those variables translate directly into yield, rework, machine wear, and product performance. Put bluntly: two billets that look identical can perform very differently on the mill if they came from different furnace routes.

If you are evaluating offers from an Iran billet trader, always ask which furnace route is used and request heat-by-heat documentation.

An induction furnace melts metal in a crucible using electromagnetic induction. It is often used for smaller batches and can be fed with selected scrap or blends containing DRI (direct reduced iron). IF lines are common in smaller, more agile plants that can switch grades quickly.

When discussing requirements with an Iran billet supplier, specify whether you accept IF-produced billets for your application and what tests you require.

An EAF uses graphite electrodes to create electric arcs that melt large quantities of scrap. EAF plants are designed for higher throughput and, when combined with ladle refining and secondary metallurgy, can produce very consistent heats for long production runs.

Large buyers usually prefer EAF routes when engaging an Iran billet exporter because of the economies of scale and predictable supply.

• Batch-based process with smaller heat sizes.
• Faster grade-to-grade switching because of smaller heats and less setup time.
• Product variability depends heavily on scrap sorting and the producer’s melt practice.

• Flexibility: Good for trial orders, pilot lots, and customers who need niche chemistries in small to medium quantities.
• Lower minimums: IF producers often accept smaller contracts, which is ideal for new product testing or when your plant lacks storage for large bundles.

• Scrap quality dependency: If the supplier’s scrap sorting is inconsistent, inclusion levels and tramp element spikes (e.g., Cu, Sn) can occur.
• Heat-to-heat variability: Because heats are smaller, there can be more variation across multiple heats in a single shipment unless strict control is in

• Larger heats and economies of scale.
• Often paired with ladle refining, argon stirring, vacuum treatments — all of which improve chemical homogeneity and reduce dissolved gases.
• Designed for steady, repetitive production of standard grades.

• Consistency and scale: Larger heats and secondary metallurgy yield stable chemistry across batches, suiting long-term contracts and high-volume rolling mills.
• Lower unit price for volume: EAF economics favor buyers committing to larger, recurring orders.
• Better dimensional uniformity: EAF casting and rolling lines usually achieve tighter tolerance control on billet dimensions.

• Higher minimums and lead times for custom grades: EAF producers prefer predictable schedules and larger batch sizes; custom or small runs may be more expensive or take longer.
• Quality still depends on process controls: An EAF without proper secondary metallurgy can still produce variable quality.

As a trusted supplier and exporter of Iran billet, we operate a strict quality-control program and offer independent third-party inspection (SGS / Intertek) on request. For medium-to-high risk applications (structural, forging) we require and provide the following tests and protocols:

• OES/ICP chemical analysis for every heat, with results tied to heat numbers and included in the Mill Test Certificate (MTC).
• Ultrasonic testing (UT) — or eddy-current for surface-breaking defects — sampled at a mutually agreed frequency (typical benchmark: one UT sample per 200–300 MT; we can tighten this for critical orders).
• Destructive tensile testing: one tensile test per agreed volume or number of heats (common practice: one per 500–1,000 MT or per X heats), with certificates provided.
• Visual and dimensional inspection on each bundle, plus packaging and preservation checks before shipment.

• IF producers: often faster for small custom lots (2–4 weeks depending on packing and shipping slots).
• EAF producers: optimized for volume; expect 4–10+ weeks depending on production schedules and order size.(faster in production)

• Ask for anti-corrosion treatment before sea shipment.
• Specify bundle size, maximum shipping length, and blocking for container vs bulk shipments.
• Confirm port of loading, vessel frequency, and expected transit time.

Romak Trading combines deep market experience with rigorous quality controls to deliver reliable, cost-effective billet solutions tailored to your project .

whether you need small pilot lots or large, recurring shipments. We offer independent third-party inspections (SGS) on request, and maintain flexible production partnerships across both IF and EAF routes so you get the chemistry and consistency your mill requires.

Our logistics team handles packing, port coordination, and compliant export documentation to reduce delays and demurrage risk. In short: technical support, transparent QC, competitive pricing, and responsive service .