Liberty Magona stops production

Steelmaker Liberty is halting production at its Italian Magona plant in Piombino after having discovered a case of coronavirus, Kallanish notes.

A union source says the company will shut down until 24 March and that sanitisation procedures will be carried out at the plant. Magona produces galvanized and pre-painted thin-rolled coil products. It was acquired by Liberty from ArcelorMittal last year as part of the reorganisation of Italian production following the latter’s purchase of Ilva.

This adds to a growing list of long and flat steelmakers and service centres that have shut down production in the country this week. Steel makers Alfa Acciai, Iro, Feralpi, Riva, Valsabbia and Duferdofin are stopping production while ArcelorMittal Italia, Arvedi, Acciaierie Venete are reducing their output (see Kallanish passim).