Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the production of molten pig iron or of steel pre-products from particulate ferrous material as well as for the production of reduction gas in a meltdown gasifier. A fluidized-bed zone is formed by coke particles upon the addition of coal and by blowing in oxygen-containing gas by nozzle pipes penetrating the wall of the meltdown gasifier. The ferrous material to be reduced is introduced into the fluidized bed. In order to be able to produce molten pig iron and liquid steel pre-products in a direct reduction process with a lower sulfur content than has hitherto been the case, without having to make any particular demands on the sulfur content of the coal used, the ferrous material to be reduced is supplied closely above the blow-in gas nozzle plane producing the fluidized bed.