Europe countries ‘ situation effected by COVID-19 Part one
Germany
Germany is the largest steel-making country in the European Union, producing 39.7 million tons of crude steel in 2019. With the closure of the country’s automotive industry, several steel mills announced a reduction in production capacity.
The ArcelorMittal Bremen plant has a production capacity of 3.6 million tons and one of the two blast furnaces has been idle. The work of Bottrop and Eisenhuettenstadt reduced working hours.
Thyssenkrupp, Germany’s largest steel producer, will enter short-term production and cut production.
Salzgitter reduced flat steel output. Saarstahl and Dillinger have a pig iron production capacity of 4.6 million tons per year. Due to the high idling cost and the need for more maintenance work, their crude steel output is kept at the lowest technically possible productivity. Salstar ’s 500,000 t / y long steel mill capacity is 50%. Cold rolling mills are reducing production due to insufficient supply due to the shutdown of steel and automobile factories.
Italy
Italy is the second largest producer in the European Union. In 2019, crude steel production was 23 million tons per year. Except for the factories of Taranto and Arvedi of Angelor Mittal, all The steel mills have shut down their operations in accordance with government regulations against COVID-19.
Italy ’s largest flat steel producer Taranto has closed its 2 million ton / year blast furnace No. 2 and No. 1 smelting plant, but has obtained permission to keep No. 1 and No. 4 blast furnaces operating. Continuous cycle production capacity, so it is produced at a historically low level of approximately 8,500 metric tons per year.
Arvedi, a Lombardy electric arc furnace (EAF) steel producer with an annual capacity of 4 million tons per year, has also been allowed to continue production, but only at a reduced speed during the weekend.
France
ArcelorMittal has stopped the production of two blast furnaces, one of which is located in Foss-sur-Mer, and the other is located in Dunkirk, with about 4 million tons of crude steel rolled off the line every year.
The Beltrame Group, Europe’s largest commercial steel bar producer, closed its French business Lamines Marchands Europes (LME) in Trith Saint Leger in northern France, with an annual capacity of 850,000 tons of electric furnaces and two steel mills until the end of March. It is understood that the closure is under review.
Spain
The Spanish Steel Industry Association UNESID is seeking clarification from the Ministry of Industry on what is an important industry. Fighting the coronavirus in tougher measures will only allow “strategically important departments” to continue to operate. During the measures taken, many consumer factories (such as car manufacturers) have been closed.
