Severstal North America Idles Hot-End Facilities at Sparrows Point, Md., Mill

Severstal North America has officially idled its hot-end facilities at its Sparrows Point, Md., steel mill complex. The company had earlier this year indicated plans to idle the facility unless market conditions improved. It officially shut down the blast furnace and steel-making facilities July 25.

The company cited weak markets and lower prices for its finished product as the reason for the shutdown. In announcing the closure, the company says that it hopes to better optimize production capabilities and balance internal inventories at its other facilities to meet the needs of its customers. Severstal says that it plans on reopening the facility once market conditions improve.

The company also operates steel mills in Dearborn, Mich.; Warren, Ohio; and Wheeling, W.V.

The hot strip mill and all finishing facilities, including the tin plating lines of Sparrows Point, will continue.