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ArcelorMittal Finalizes South Carolina Rod Mill Closure
08/14/2015 - ArcelorMittal has formally closed its Georgetown, S.C., wire rod mill, bringing to a close 46 years of steel production at the site.
The company had announced in May that it would shutter the mill, its primary U.S. wire rod facility, citing unfairly traded steel imports from China and elsewhere. The decision affects 226 salaried employees, hourly union members and on-site contractors.
The mill ceased production in July, and the closure became effective 13 August.
“Georgetown is a very productive plant, making 300,000 tons of product per year with fewer than 200 full-time ArcelorMittal employees -- that’s about 1,500 tons per worker. Imports have really been damaging to the Georgetown facility, and the business overall,” said P.S. Venkat, CEO of ArcelorMittal Long Carbon North America, in a statement at the time the closure was announced.
The mill, which has one electric arc furnace, began operating in 1969. It was capable of producing 750,000 tons of wire rod annually, according to ArcelorMittal's website. It had been idled in 2009, following the recession, but was restarted in February 2011 under a revised agreement with the United Steelworkers union.
Georgetown Mayor Jack Scoville told WCIV television that the city expects to lose between $300,000 and $500,000 annually in property tax revenue, business license fees and utility earnings.
The mill ceased production in July, and the closure became effective 13 August.
“Georgetown is a very productive plant, making 300,000 tons of product per year with fewer than 200 full-time ArcelorMittal employees -- that’s about 1,500 tons per worker. Imports have really been damaging to the Georgetown facility, and the business overall,” said P.S. Venkat, CEO of ArcelorMittal Long Carbon North America, in a statement at the time the closure was announced.
The mill, which has one electric arc furnace, began operating in 1969. It was capable of producing 750,000 tons of wire rod annually, according to ArcelorMittal's website. It had been idled in 2009, following the recession, but was restarted in February 2011 under a revised agreement with the United Steelworkers union.
Georgetown Mayor Jack Scoville told WCIV television that the city expects to lose between $300,000 and $500,000 annually in property tax revenue, business license fees and utility earnings.
