Global steel giant ArcelorMittal has announced that it will restart the expansion project at its Monlevade and Juiz de Fora sites in Brazil, which will increase production capacity from 3.75 million mt to 4.9 million mt per year. The expansion was first announced in 2007 but paused in 2009 due to the economic crisis and weak demand. The project is expected to be completed in two phases, with the start-up scheduled for 2015.
According to ArcelorMittal's statement, rebar capacity at Juiz de Fora will be increased from 50,000 mt to 400,000 mt per year and the site's melt shop will produce an extra 200,000 mt of billets per year using its new ladle and new sixth strand in the continuous caster.
The additional wire rod from Monlevade is aimed at increasing the supply of high added value products mainly to the domestic construction and automotive industries. Juiz de Fora's additional rebar is expected to go into downstream cut and bend operations and to civil construction end-users.
