Disclosed is a process for reducing metallic oxide or sulfide materials in a rotary kiln and a rotary kiln for reducing such materials. The materials are heated in a reducing atmosphere as they travel along the axial length of the rotary kiln. The materials are discharged from the kiln at a discharge point in the kiln away from its lower material outlet end, wherein the temperature within the kiln at said discharge point is greater than the temperature at the lower material outlet end.