Abstract:The ironmaking technology of rotary hearth furnace and its development abroad are introduced and discussed in this paper comprehensively, including INMETCO and the development from Fastmet to Fastmelt, IDP (developed by US Steel Dynamic Inc), as well as polytechnics of COMET, REDSMELT and DryIron, and also the socalled Itmk3 (third generation ironmaking processes), which is codeveloped by Kobe Steel of Japan and some of US companies and the Nuggests is produced in rotary hearth furnace. The possibility and the necessity for China to develop such new technology are also involved.