Thyssenkrupp Steel's decision not to extend its existing pig iron supply contract beyond September 2027 has been the key development reshaping the production structure of the Duisburg site. ArcelorMittal said it had evaluated various options for alternative pig iron supplies and different scenarios for decarbonising crude steel production, but none of these options were found to be economically viable.
Wire rod production to continue
Under the company's plan, subject to the necessary approval from the supervisory board, the steelmaking and billet production facilities in Duisburg would be closed, while the wire rod mill would continue operating using billets supplied externally.
ArcelorMittal said the semi-finished products required by the Duisburg rolling mill could be sourced from other group plants in Europe as well as external producers. ArcelorMittal Hamburg, which produces steel using DRI-EAF technology, is expected to play an important role in supplying semi-finished products with a lower carbon footprint.
Gandrange's supply structure to change
Duisburg is currently one of the key semi-finished product suppliers to ArcelorMittal's Gandrange plant. Following the change in Duisburg's production structure, Gandrange is also expected to source its raw materials and semi-finished products from other group plants and independent suppliers.
The company plans to begin discussions in September 2026 as part of the social plan covering employees at the Duisburg site.
Sanjay Samaddar, CEO of ArcelorMittal Europe – Long Products, said that the European long steel sector is facing low capacity utilisation, weakening domestic demand, limited export opportunities and high energy costs.
Emphasising that the company's priority is to ensure uninterrupted supply to customers after September 2027, Samaddar said work is continuing to ensure that the Duisburg wire rod mill can operate in the future using externally sourced semi-finished products.
Comments
No comment yet.