JSW Steel to Close Mingo Junction EAF Steel Mill

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  JSW Steel USA announced its decision to idle its electric arc furnace (EAF) steel mill in Mingo Junction, Ohio. The decision is attributed to falling demand and ongoing upgrades at the facility.

According to John Hritz, Chief Executive, JSW Steel USA, the company intends to fulfil all existing orders and close the facility by end-August this year. The market demand has taken a big hit due to the deadly spread of the coronavirus pandemic, which continues to have its impacts. The removal of the EAF is also on account of the previously announced replacement of the EAF with new Tenova Consteel EAF. The upgrades are expected to be completed in 2021, Hritz noted.

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Upon completion of the upgrades, the facility will be capable of producing 12-inch slabs, which will be mainly supplied to the company’s pipe and plate mill in Baytown, Texas, along with other customers.

The mill had produced around 73,000 metric tonnes of hot rolled coils in the initial quarter of the current year. The facility had idled production in end-April for a period of two months, towards installation of new automation systems. The idling is feared to impact Q2 and full-year steel production by the facility.