ArcelorMittal Brazil will reduce operations at its Barra Mansa long product mill, located in the city of same name in the state of Rio de Janeiro, according to a media report from A Voz da Cidade. The mill has an 800,000 mt/year crude steel capacity.
ArcelorMittal Brazil did not return a request for comment, but said in the news report that it will reduce production at the mill’s steelworks as “part of strategy to optimize operations.”
The company said the reduction will allow the Barra Mansa mill to become “more competitive”. The reduced production won’t affect client support, it said.
However, a local union said the Barra Mansa mill would suspend, instead of reduce, steel production. The union said it has struggled to talk to the company. The local union, known as SindMetal-SF, said jobs are at risk.