Neutron activation analysis / Minor elements / Metallurgical samples / Iron and steel industrySummary. In this work instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was applied to investigate a total of 30 samples of metallurgical raw materials (sinter, pellets, coke) and related finished products (pig iron, slag, blast-furnace flue dust) sampled from the same blast furnace discharge in the ironmaking process in the Integrated Iron and Steel Works of Galati (Romania). The transfer efficiencies of minor elements As, Cu, K, Na, V and W from raw materials -iron-bearing components (sinter, pellets) and coke -to pig iron and their losses in slag and flue dust have been determined and a discussion of the behaviour of each element during the blast furnace process was done.