The article presents the results of the analysis of production data on the operation of the blast furnace No. 1 of Ural Steel JSC for the period from 2013 to 2018. During this period, the Mikhailovsky GOK pellets with different basicities were used. It has been established, that the effectiveness of the use of pellets of different basicities is determined by their behavior in a blast furnace and depends on the proportion of pellets in the iron ore part of the charge. The gas-dynamic conditions of melting deteriorate with an increase in the proportion of pellets in the charge, which is accompanied by an increase in the specific pressure drop and forces the blast rate, to be adjusted. It is necessary to work on 40-45% of fluxed pellets and 20-25% acid pellets in a charge at a blast rate of 2000-2100 m3/min, to minimize coke rate and increase rate of work of blast furnace No. 1 of Ural Steel JSC. An increase in pellet consumption is possible while maintaining the efficiency of blast-furnace smelting only if their high-temperature properties are improved, as a result of optimization of basicity and increase in MgO content, which affects the structure and properties of the silicate binder.