Depending on the smelting conditions, the use of coke fines (36-25 mm) for up to 22% of the coke charged into a blast furnace having a standard bell-and-hopper charging appratus, led to a decrease in pig-iron output by 1.0–1.6% (or 0.2–0.4% for each 1% of coke fines), an increase in unit coke consumption by 0.8–1.0% (or by 1.0%-0.19-0.17%), and a deterioration in the drainage capacity of the hearth.