ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Roman, Romania-based steel tubes production subsidiary of the world's largest integrated metals and mining company ArcelorMittal, has halted operations at its rolling mill No. 6 for a three-month period starting from July 1, Romanian newspaper Ziarul Financiar has reported. The reasons for the decision in question have not been specified.
In the first quarter of 2009 ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Roman registered losses in the amount of RON 116.2 million (approx. $38.4 million), having reported a record high annual loss of RON 183 million (approx. $60.4 million) in 2008. Meanwhile, the plant's Q1 2009 sales fell by 49 percent to RON 120.5 million (approx. $39.8 million) and its operating expenses decreased by 37 percent to RON 161.6 million (approx. $53.4 million), both compared to the same period last year.
ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Roman produces line, extraction and construction pipes of 89 mm to 508 mm diameter and of 0.5 mm to 50 mm wall thickness, which are delivered to the domestic market and to external markets such as the United States, Czech Republic, South Africa and Netherlands.