ArcelorMittal Italia to modify 2019 output target: Jehl

ArcelorMittal Italia is set to produce a volume of 5 million tonnes of steel products n 2019. This follows the announcement that the increase in output to 6 million tonnes/year has been reduced due to market conditions, ArcelorMittal Italia ceo Matthieu Jehl said during Made in Steel in Milan this week.

The executive notes that the group decided to take action to be responsible and address the issues impacting the market on a European level. The group announced a reduction in output across Europe of some 3m t/y last week (see Kallanish 7 May).

The announcement has attracted some criticism from trade unions. Jehl stresses however that the decisioni has also to be seen as an opportunity for the company in Italy to focus on further increasing production quality and the service to clients. He also notes that the planned investments in the Italian units announced during the acquisition of Ilva have not been changed.

In 2018 the Ilva assets produced some 4.5 million tonnes of steel products.

In addition to the reductions in Italy, ArcelorMittal is also set to reduce output in Poland and Spain.