ArcelorMittal Cleveland Works has moved up maintenance of their C-5 blast furnace to mid-August according to Steel Market Update sources. The furnace is projected to be down approximately 40 days.

The C-5 furnace is rated at 4350 tons per day at peak capacity and is one of two operating furnaces at the AMUSA Cleveland facility. The second furnace – C-6 – is rated by the AIST at 4150 tons per day. The expected loss of production will be between 130,000-195,000 tons using peak capacity numbers.

It is believed the furnace is being taken off-line at this time due to a poorer than anticipated flat rolled order book (Cleveland is a fully integrated flat rolled mill).

Earlier this past week U.S. Steel Fairfield had an issue with their blast furnace which took it out of operation for a few days. U.S. Steel lead times out of Fairfield on coated were said to be in late August (which is quite short for USS).