Metinvest suspends work at Italian steel plants

Metinvest Group has suspended two of its rolling mills in Italy. This decision was made in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic and the demands of the Italian government to suspend the operation of steel mills in the country. The factories of the Ferriera Valsider group and Metinvest Trametal in Italy are closed until April 3, 2020 to counter the spread of the virus. During the shutdown, production at these plants is expected to drop to 40,000 tonnes. The group does not rule out that the Italian government may impose additional restrictions on the operation of metallurgical plants, in accordance with which the restriction on all or part of the operating processes at Ferriera Valsider and Metinvest Trametal will be extended. In the same time,

In case of expansion of restrictions imposed on Italian plants and continuing instability in the European market, Metinvest predicts a decrease in production at its Ukrainian plants, primarily Azovstal. The Group is considering a complete halt to slab production at the plant.

In addition, the possibility of shutting down blast furnace No. 3 at Azovstal and postponing the launch of blast furnaces No. 4 at I & SW Ilyich and No. 4 at Azovstal, which were stopped for major repairs (from April to May), is being considered. In turn, Zaporizhstal I & SW (JV) does not exclude the possibility of delaying the launch of blast furnace No. 5 after the planned reconstruction. The final decisions to restart the kilns will be based on the availability of orders in April and the current situation in the world.

Excessive amounts of iron ore mined at the Group's mining assets in Kryvyi Rih due to a possible decline in iron production will be directed to traditional markets, especially China.