Feb 24, 2012 -- ArcelorMittal (MT) said imports by the Luxembourg-based company of steel slabs from Russian rival OAO Severstal are unrelated to a decision to extend the idling of its Florange factory in northeastern France.

"The imports have nothing to do with Florange,” the steel company said by e-mail. “This was a very short-term situation which was required on account of harsh winter conditions which caused temporary loss of slab production at our own plants.”

Labor unions said the purchases showed the Florange site should be restarted, Paris-based Les Echos reported today.

"This short-term requirement unfortunately did not support the re-opening of any of our idled blast furnaces in Europe,” ArcelorMittal said. “The economic reality means that an extension of the temporary idling at Florange is required.”