Steelmaker ArcelorMittal Brazil will resume operations of blast furnace No.2 in the Tubarão mill from July 26.
The furnace in Espírito Santo with an annual production capacity of 1.2mn mt pig iron, was idled in June 2019 for maintenance but remained shut due to weak market demand. The company said the blast furnace will now focus on the export market as orders are gradually coming in, according to media reports.
The Tubarão mill, which produces hot-rolled coil and slab, has an installed capacity of 7.5mn mt per year, with blast furnace No.1 operating at an annual capacity of 3.5mn mt. Blast furnace No.3 was halted in April 2020 due to COVID-19 related slowdown.