Severstal Wednesday confirmed the idling of its hot-end facilities at US-based Severstal Sparrows Point, as of July 25, 2010 as previously scheduled. The idling of blast furnace and steel-making facilities is in response to weakened market demand allowing the company to better optimize production capabilities and balance internal inventories; however, the company has indicated the hot-end facilities will resume operations once market conditions improve.
However, hot strip mill and all finishing facilities including tin plating lines of Sparrows Point will continue operating.