ArcelorMittal Tubarão is operating near full capacity due to higher demand from the domestic civil construction and infrastructure sectors, Benjamin Baptista, Ceo at ArcelorMittal Brazil told the media outlet without disclosing the capacity.
The Tubarão mill, which produced 6.3mn mt crude steel the last year, is operating three blast furnaces after production resumed at its No. 3 blast furnace on October 28. The furnace was idled for almost seven months amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to meeting demand, the company plans to sell steel for the final consumer by opening 100 points of sale in 2021, Baptista said, adding that the steelmaker has now 11 small shops in the country, known as concept stores, in which it sells 500 steel products for the final consumer.
ArcelorMittal Brazil’s crude steel output fell by 25.1pc to 4.3mn mt in the first half (H1) from 5.8mn mt in H1 2019, on lower demand for flat and long products.
Brazil’s crude steel output rose by 3.5pc to 2.7mn mt in October from 2.6mn mt produced in the prior October, according to the latest figures released by the World Steel Association.