Open / Close Advertisement

ArcelorMittal Might Part With U.S. Rail Mill and Other Long Products Facilities

"ArcelorMittal confirms it is in discussions concerning the sale of certain long product mills in the United States, including Steelton," spokeswoman Mary Beth Holdford said in a statement to Platts Metals. She declined to say which other mills might be on the lot.

Local media reported in mid-January that the company might be considering selling the rail mill – it’s one of only three in North America and South America, according to ArcelorMittal -- but the company at wouldn’t confirm the reports at the time.  

American Metal Market reported that steel industry analysts see the potential sale as part of ArcelorMittal’s broader restructuring for its North American operations.

Indeed, the company has closed its Georgetown, S.C., wire rod mill and may be looking to idle more operations at its integrated Indiana Harbor works in Indiana, The Times of Northwest Indiana newspaper recently reported. 

The newspaper noted that the company already has idled its Indiana Harbor Long Carbon unit as well as a galvanizing line in Indiana.

“ArcelorMittal is considering all options for optimizing our assets in the United States," Holdford told the newspaper in January.  

"We are internally discussing the optimization of some operations – including those within Indiana Harbor, our largest integrated facility in the U.S. – as an indication of how we might reshape the business to become more competitive and sustainable for years to come."