[SMM Steel] EU HRC Edges Up: Northern Spot Nears 750 EUR/Tonne on Supply Tightening Expectations

Domestic company UMB Steel is advancing plans to restart the long-dormant Otelu Rosu steel plant, idle since 2012, targeting an annual long-steel production capacity of around 700,000 tonnes. The project marks a strategic shift for UMB, expanding beyond infrastructure construction into steel manufacturing. According to local media, the future production route will combine scrap-based electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking with continuous casting and rolling, with a planned product mix of rebar, other straight bars, compact coils, and wire rod — geared toward construction-sector demand.

United States Steel Corporation has completed a US$350 million reline of Blast Furnace No. 14 at its Gary Works facility in Indiana and returned the unit to service. Capable of producing more than 2 million metric tons of hot metal annually, No. 14 is the largest furnace at Gary Works and in U.S. Steel's domestic fleet. The project required more than 1 million labor hours and was completed with a zero-days-away injury rate, with the reline including replacement of the furnace's refractory lining and restoration of critical support systems, alongside maintenance on furnace gas, cooling water, hoisting, and stove infrastructure.

JSW Steel produced 24.65lakh tonnes of consolidated crude steel in August 2026, up 3% from an adjusted 23.82lakh tonnes a year earlier. Production from its Indian operations increased 4% to 23.87lakh tonnes from 22.95lakh tonnes, with capacity utilisation standing at 88%. Output from JSW Steel USA–Ohio, however, declined 11% to 0.78lakh tonnes from 0.88lakh tonnes.The August 2025 comparison excludes production from Bhushan Power and Steel Limited’s steel undertaking, which was transferred to the JSW-JFE Steel joint venture through a slump sale in March 2026. JSW Steel currently has a combined crude steel capacity of 37.9million tonnes/year, including 4.5million tonnes/year through the JSW-JFE joint venture, and plans to increase this to 54.8million tonnes/year over the next four years. Its Vijayanagar plant has a capacity of 19.5million tonnes/year and is being expanded to around 25million tonnes/year by FY2030.