ArcelorMittal's EAF in Alabama expects first heat in Q2

Commissioning continues for AM/NS Calvert’s 1.5-million-short-ton-per-year EAF mill in Alabama.

The facility at AM/NS Calvert will be the first EAF in North America capable of supplying exposed automotive grades with domestically melted and poured material. The first heat is expected in Q2’25, the company said.

Remember, AM/NS Calvert is a joint venture of ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel.

AM/NS Calvert

_{(in millions of dollars except shipments)}

The update came with the release of global steelmaker ArcelorMittal’s first-quarter earnings report.

“From a financial perspective, it was another quarter of consistent delivery and robust margins, particularly given the geopolitical challenges, with EBITDA of $116 per tonne,” said CEO Aditya Mittal. “We continue to execute our strategic growth agenda, which is expected to deliver an incremental $1.8 billion EBITDA by 2027.”

For its North American segment, sales in Q1’25 increased by 9.6% to $2.9 billion vs. $2.6 billion in Q4’24, primarily on account of a 10.5% increase in steel shipments and a 1.2% increase in average steel selling prices. But compared to a year ago, sales dropped from $3.3 billion.

Like many steelmakers, the Luxembourg-headquartered company warned of the risks of global trade policies.

“Looking ahead, a measure of caution about the short-term outlook is appropriate,” Mittal said Wednesday. “Heightened uncertainty around the terms of global trade is hurting business confidence and risks causing further economic disruption if not quickly resolved.”

Still, he said that the growing effort by governments to support domestic manufacturing is encouraging.

“In the US, Section 232 tariffs are supporting higher prices and spreads, and in Europe the Steel and Metals Action Plan is a much needed and important signal that Europe will take action to support strategically important industries like steel from unfair competition,” Mittal said. “Swift implementation of the plan is now required to ensure European steelmaking can regain competitiveness and continue to invest for the future.”