<article><p class="lead">Leading European steelmaker ArcelorMittal is taking down blast furnace three at its Dunkirk site in France for relining from the end of September, given weak steel demand.</p><p>The unit has a production capacity of 1.8mn t/yr and its idling means the site will only be operating one furnace, with number two — which has 1.4 mn t/yr pig iron capacity — idled earlier this year.</p><p>The company has announced the idling of a number of furnaces in recent days. Today it said it would be idling <a target="_blank" href="https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news/2367145-arcelormittal-shuts-down-german-blast-furnace">blast furnace three</a> at its Bremen site in Germany indefinitely, alongside its direct reduced iron facility in Hamburg, after yesterday <a target="_blank" href="https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news/2366849-arcelormittal-to-idle-spains-asturias-blast-furnace">announcing it would idle a blast furnace its Asturias site in Spain</a>. </p><p>The company has also kept its Spanish Sestao electric arc furnace-based coils mill off line, given weak demand and high energy costs. </p><p>Two galvanising lines will also be idled at Dunkirk because of weak automotive demand. There will also be a reduction in the use of temporary workers, with permanent staff encouraged to take early leave and partial working arrangements.</p><p>As well as low demand, the company cited rising energy and carbon costs, which dampened its competitiveness versus non-European imports.</p><p class="bylines">By Colin Richardson</p></article>
