Brazil’s steelmaker Gerdau suspended a halt at a blast furnace and a melt shop at its Divinopolis mill, located in the city of same name in the state of Minas Gerais.
According to a media report, as a result of the move, the company won’t furlough all its employees in December, as previously announced by the steelmaker. However, workers at company’s rolling mill will still join the furlough, in which they won’t work, but will still receive their wages.
Gerdau said an improvement in the company’s forecast for the export market helped it make the decision to resume activities.
“The decision to not initiate the furlough in December was due to a change in the scenario of the exports business, with short-term opportunities in the global markets,” it said.
In mid-October, Gerdau announced it would provisionally suspend output at its Divinopolis mill, which is an integrated and rolling mill that produces rebar and merchant bar. It has a 570,000 mt/year crude steel capacity and a 460,000 mt/year rolled products capacity.