A process for producing molten pig iron or molten steel pre-products from charging substances formed of iron ores and fluxes and at least partially comprising fines, wherein the charging substances are directly reduced to sponge iron in at least one reduction zone by the fluidized layer process, the sponge iron is melted in a melting-gasifying zone under supply of carbon carriers and oxygen-containing gas, and a CO and H.sub.2 -containing reducing gas is produced, which is injected into the reduction zone, is reacted there, is withdrawn as an export gas and is supplied to a consumer, is to be improved with a view to rendering feasible the use of fine ore in an economic manner. This is effected in thatprimarily hematite and/or magnetite fine ores and/or ore dusts are subjected to preheating by the fluidized layer process in a preheating zone,the thus preheated charging substances are completely reduced to a major extent in at least one consecutively arranged reduction zone,whereupon at least the more finely particulate charging substances are charged into the fluidized bed and/or, if desired, also into the fixed bed, of the melting-gasifying zone by forced conveyance, preferably by pneumatic conveyance, and are melted there.