ArcelorMittal firmly holds its position in Luxembourg

ArcelorMittal's management once again highlighted the serious challenges facing the European steel industry during the company's New Year's reception in Differdange. The main factor putting pressure on the industry is the rapid growth of production in Asia: China currently accounts for around 55% of global steel production. At the same time, competition from the US is intensifying, which is reducing the space available for European producers.

Against this backdrop, ArcelorMittal emphasises the importance of Luxembourg as a strategic location. Despite its relatively modest output on a global scale, the country produces around two million tonnes of steel annually and remains an important link in the European production chain.

Pierre Jacobs, CEO of ArcelorMittal Long Products Luxembourg, noted that Luxembourg companies play a significant role in supplying Europe and global markets with rolled products, beams and rails. According to him, Long Products Luxembourg provides jobs for about 2,000 people, and he is cautiously optimistic about the prospects, given the scale of current investments.

Modernisation remains a key focus. The metallurgical complex in the Belval area is undergoing a complete overhaul. A new electric arc furnace and vacuum degassing unit have recently been commissioned here, which will improve product quality and reduce emissions. In the second quarter of the year, the company plans to continue work on adapting the casting section, which should increase the efficiency of the entire production cycle.

At the same time, a €23 million environmental project is being implemented in Dudelange. It is aimed at capturing dust generated during various production processes. The goal of the project is to collect up to 85% of all dust, reflecting the industry's growing attention to environmental standards and social pressure from regulators and local communities.

The company places particular emphasis on occupational safety. ArcelorMittal has set itself the goal of achieving "zero fatalities" by 2027, which means completely eliminating fatal accidents in the workplace. In Luxembourg, numerous training programmes have been launched for this purpose, covering both company employees and contractors. This approach shows that, in the face of fierce international competition, safety and sustainability issues are becoming just as important for the steel sector as economic efficiency.