Ferroalloys are intermediate products of the metallurgical production, including iron alloys with silicon, manganese, chromium and other elements which are used in the steel production (for deoxidation and alloying of liquid metal, binding of harmful impurities, giving of metal the required structure and properties), as well as in obtaining other ferroalloys. Traditionally, ferroalloys include alloys only containing iron only partially (for example silicomanganese, silica calcium) and some metals and nonmetals in a technically pure form (metallic manganese, metallic chromium, crystalline silicon). So-called complex ferroalloys contain several components.

The reduction of oxides of the ferroalloy-conducting element (Mn, Cr, etc.) with carbon in the presence of iron takes place faster and at a lower temperature, thus reducing energy costs. With a rare exception, the melting point of ferroalloys is below the melting point of the pure metal. Thus, it facilitates the dissolution when introduced into liquid decreasing burning of the leading element. The cost of the element in ferroalloys is lower than the technically pure metal. The standard content of components in ferroalloys is determined by the chemical composition of the raw materials, the conditions for the ferroalloy smelting and their introduction into liquid steel.