[Thyssenkrupp Curtails Duisburg Hot Metal Output Due to Rhine River Logistics Constraints]
German steelmaker Thyssenkrupp has officially reduced its hot metal production at the Duisburg plant after persistently low water levels on the River Rhine severely disrupted raw material supply chains. The logistical constraints forced the company to pull its push-barge fleet out of service and rely on externally chartered vessels with lower drafts, severely limiting the volume of incoming bulk materials. Although specific tonnage curtailments were not disclosed, market sources indicate the raw material shortage has fueled bullish sentiment, pushing domestic hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices in Northwest Europe up by approximately EUR20 per tonne to EUR710 per tonne ex-works.