Luxembourg-based steelmaker ArcelorMittal has stated in a letter sent to its customers that delays in flat steel deliveries across Europe are unavoidable due to the fires that impacted blast furnaces in Spain and France. Allocations for fresh order books may also be reduced due to lower production levels.
In March, the company had to halt its blast furnace A at its Asturias plant in Spain and its blast furnace No. 4 at its Dunkirk plant in France after fires, as SteelOrbis previously reported.
The blast furnace A in Spain has an annual production capacity of 4.5 million mt and the blast furnace No. 4 in France has an annual production capacity of approximately 3.6 million mt.
ArcelorMittal stated that it is assessing the damages and that the necessary repairs at the furnaces will take time. Several weeks will be needed to get back to standard production levels, SteelOrbis understands.