Overview
- ArcelorMittal Acindar announced it will shut the steelmaking furnaces at its Villa Constitución plant from Monday through Thursday next week and plans to resume operations on Friday.
- The temporary halt will directly affect about 200 operatives in the steelmaking area, with the company offering advance vacations and compensatory days to cover the pause.
- Company sources say the move responds to roughly 10,000 tonnes of inventory accumulated between January and May and follows a revised 2026 production forecast near 860,000 tonnes, about 40% below 2023 output.
- The local union (UOM) was informed and framed the interruption as an adaptation to market conditions while remaining alert to broader labor tensions tied to pending reform proposals.
- Industry groups warn the sector is in a sharp contraction with year‑on‑year declines above 10% and high idle capacity, and Acindar is pursuing port, grid and renewable investments to cut costs and boost export logistics.