ArcelorMittal halts Brazilian rolling mill expansion

Tuesday, 01 November 2011

Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal has decided to temporarily stop the $1.2 billion expansion of its integrated João Monlevade steel mill in the Minas Gerais state in Brazil as a reaction to weak market conditions. The upgrades at the Brazilian longs mill include a new sinter unit, a new blast furnace, a third rolling line and an overall increase in annual wire rod output to 2.3 million metric tons. If completed, the expansion would double the mill's current crude steelmaking capacity to 2.4 million tons per year.

The decision comes amid other slowdowns/shutdowns at ArcelorMittal's global steelmaking facilities. The company has permanently closed its liquid phase steel production location in Liege, Belgium, temporarily halted production at a mill in Poland, idled a blast furnace in Germany and France, an electric arc furnace and two rolling mills in Luxembourg and an electric arc furnace in Spain. Anemic European steel demand drove ArcelorMittal's decision-making process.

ArcelorMittal also pulled out of the joint venture with Peabody Energy immediately following ArcelorMittal's and Peabody Energy's acquisition of the majority stake in metallurgical coal mining company Macarthur Coal.

Tags: wire rod , Poland , Germany , Belgium , Brazil , France , Spain , Luxembourg , ArcelorMittal , longs , Mediterranean , Europe , North America , South America , European Union , steelmaking , investments , production

sourced steelorbis

Beltrame to build new steel rolling mill in Tarnos, France

July28,2011

Alain Rousset, president of the Regional Council of Aquitaine in southwestern France, recently visited the site on which Italy-based Beltrame's new steel mill will be built, in Tarnos, near Bayonne. During the visit, Beltrame official Alfredo Bottené provided various details about the new project.

The construction of buildings will be completed by the end of 2011, while the start of production has been postponed to the end of 2012. Production will start with an annual output capacity of 250,000 mt of flat steel, increasing after two years to 450,000 mt of steel for the construction and the shipbuilding industries. By the end of 2012, 150 new employees will be hired.

The mill, which will require an investment of €45 million from the Italian company, will use about 800 cubic meters of water per hour, of which only 15 m³ per hour will be consumed, thanks to a water recycling system. Also, the noise emitted by the plant will be minimized through the installation of insulating coatings on the walls of buildings.

Siemens to supply drive and automation systems for Handan Steel

Fri, Mar04, 2011

Linz, Austria-based plantmaker Siemens VAI has announced that it has received an order from Chinese steelmaker Hebei Iron & Steel Group to supply drive and automation systems for a new rolling mill for rails and heavy sections. The mill will be erected at Handan Iron & Steel Co., a subsidiary of Hebei Steel Group, and will produce rolled products for infrastructural applications. The project volume amounts to more than RMB 75 million ($11.41 million), according to the Siemens VAI announcement. The first section is scheduled to be rolled in July 2011.

As SteelOrbis previously reported, the rolling mill is designed for an annual production capacity of 1.38 million tons of heavy sections and rails.

Tags: beams , longs , Austria , China , Europe , Far East , production , investments , steelmaking , East Asia and Pacific , European Union

Sourth Africa faces delay threat to projects over shortage of steel rebar

Sunday, 13 Feb 2011

It is reported that large building and construction projects in South Africa could grind to a halt within weeks because of a shortage of rebar. The shortage was caused by a breakdown last month of ArcelorMittal’s main furnace in Newcastle in KwaZulu Natal.

The South African Reinforced Concrete Engineers Association said that the breakdown meant there would not be any rebar available this month, possibly halting building and construction projects in SA, and resulting in delays and additional costs. This comes at a time when the construction industry is reeling from the effects of the global economic recession and the spending hangover after last year’s Soccer World Cup. While there was huge state investment in fixed capital last year, the government has been slow since then to issue new tenders and tardy in paying for work done. The private sector is complaining bitterly.

The association said that the shortage had been made worse by the closure last year of the unprofitable reinforcing steel rolling mill, Cape Town Iron & Steel Works, which had been a large supplier of the steel.

Mr Rod Mountford director of the association said in a statement that "Members of the association are reporting serious shortages of rebar and mesh rod, which has been totally unforeseen and beyond their control."

Mr Mountford said that "The imported product is more expensive than locally sourced reinforcement. Individual importers of rebar will also have to ensure that the quality of the steel complies with South African standards and specifications. Steel mills have already been notified there are price increases due this month and in March 2011."

SA's two remaining suppliers Scaw Metals and the Davsteel division of Cape Gate, were unable to provide construction firms with their required volumes, leaving a two to three month lead time for imported rebar. (sourced:businessday.co.za)