Steel Mills

ArcelorMittal Idles Ukraine Mill Because of War, NA Ops Unscathed

Written by Michael Cowden

March 5, 2022

ArcelorMittal has decided to idle iron- and steelmaking operations at its mill in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, because of the war.

The decision was made last week “to ensure the safety and security of our people and assets,” the Luxembourg based multinational steelmaker said in a statement.

ArcelorMittalArcelorMittal has begun the process of idling all blast furnaces at the mill, something that will take seven to 10 days.

The mill had previously been operating at a “technical minimum,” or about one-third of its normal production levels.

“ArcelorMittal is deeply concerned about the situation in Ukraine and the threat to our employees and the entire Ukrainian population,” the company added.

The government of Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine in late February. The resulting war has seen civilians increasingly targeted by Russian forces.

The war is not expected to have an impact on ArcelorMittal’s operations in North America.

“We don’t foresee any supply disruptions from the current situation in Ukraine; we will continue to monitor all developments,” a company spokeswoman said in a statement.

In North America, ArcelorMittal’s primary flat-rolled steel operations are in Mexico, in Canada at ArcelorMittal Dofasco in Hamilton, Ontario, and in the U.S. at its AMNS Calvert joint venture in Alabama with Japan’s Nippon Steel.

By Michael Cowden, Michael@SteelMarketUpdate.com

Michael Cowden

Michael Cowden is managing editor for Steel Market Update. Cowden has covered the steel industry since 2007. He specializes in flat-rolled steel but has also reported on steel long products, steel pipe and tube, and aluminum. Before joining SMU, Cowden held reporting jobs at Fastmarkets AMM in Chicago, the Associated Press in Pittsburgh, and the Cambodia Daily in Phnom Penh. He has also worked as a copy editor and in marketing at the University of Chicago Press. Cowden has a BA in English from the University of Chicago and an MSJ journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Contact him at michael@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7872.

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