ArcelorMittal Duisburg announces plan for site after end of hot-metal supply

In December 2024, ArcelorMittal Duisburg announced that it had terminated the hot metal supply contract with ThyssenKrupp Steel in Duisburg, with effect from September 2027, due to a significant cost rise in the proposed contract renewal.

ArcelorMittal Duisburg has explored a number of options for hot metal supply as well as the possibility of decarbonising the production of steel, but none of these options has proved economically viable.

In the absence of hot metal supply, subject to the approval of ArcelorMittal Duisburg supervisory board the company intends to supply Duisburg’s wire rod mill with semis (billets), meaning that the steel shop and the billet rolling mill would no longer be part of the production process and would therefore be closed. Several ArcelorMittal sites and other external producers in Europe are able to supply Duisburg with most of the semis required. ArcelorMittal Hamburg, which produces steel via the DRI-EAF route, is well positioned to supply Duisburg with semis with a lower carbon footprint.

As ArcelorMittal Duisburg is currently the main supplier of semis to ArcelorMittal Gandrange, Gandrange will source its semis from several other ArcelorMittal sites, and as well as purchasing billets from external suppliers.

The process of social dialogue related to a redundancy plan for ArcelorMittal employees working in Duisburg is due to start in September 2026.

“We recognise that this is difficult news for our employees in ArcelorMittal Duisburg. While the structural challenges facing the bars and rods sector in Europe are significant and widely known – including low capacity utilisation, decreasing local demand, restricted export opportunities and high energy costs - the company’s absolute priority is securing the long-term future of ArcelorMittal Duisburg, for our customers, our employees and the wider community. We are therefore advancing our plans to supply the wire rod mill to ensure continuity of supplies for all our customers, beyond September 2027”, said Sanjay Samaddar, CEO, ArcelorMittal Europe – Long Products.

ArcelorMittal Duisburg deeply values the long-term relationship with all its customers and has committed to maintaining uninterrupted continuity of supplies to all customers.