Mittal Steel Idling Blast Furnaces

Mittal Steel USA is taking further steps to match its output with inventory adjustments occurring in the markets that it serves. To accomplish this the company is taking its C-6 furnace at its Cleveland plant offline in preparation for gunning of refractory material to shore up its lining. The work is routine maintenance that had been scheduled for June. Normally, the furnace produces about 1,500 tons of iron daily.

In addition, the company is idling H-3 blast furnace on the west side of the Indiana Harbor plant in East Chicago, Ind. The furnace will return to production when business conditions demand its 2,000-ton-a-day output. No. 6 blast furnace on that plant's east side has been idle since March.

"The underlying economy is still strong," said Louis L. Schorsch, CEO of Mittal Steel USA.

"However, the excess inventory in the distribution sector that was built up in the last half of 2004 is still being worked down. Given that, it is appropriate that we adjust our production and use this opportunity to undertake necessary maintenance and improvements."