Arcelor-Mittal has announced on Tuesday, October 31, its intention to temporarily reduce
production at its European flat carbon steel mills in response to slow developments in the steel market.
In particular, the company is to postpone the restart of one of its blast furnaces, located in Dunkirk,
France, by two weeks in the fourth quarter. In addition, Arcelor- Mittal will stop work earlier than originally planned at the blast furnace in its Spanish mill Aviles in the first quarter of 2007.
Arcelor-Mittal Executive Vice President for Flat Carbon Steel
Europe, Mr. Chistophe Cornier has commented: “During the first half of 2006, strong supply replenished inventories in the market. The delay in restarting the unit in Dunkirk and the idling of the Avilès blast furnace will help to balance inventories throughout the steel value chain and maintain sustainable relationships with our customers in a market in which underlying demand continues to be healthy”.