Production cut extended at Thyssenkrupp’s Isbergues site

The announcement follows the decision to reduce production at the site by 50% from the turn of the year.

Angelo di Martino, CEO of Thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel: “In view of the ruinous flood of imports in the market for grain-oriented electrical steel, we see no alternative but to temporarily shut down our French site once again. This measure is necessary to stabilise our company amid further deterioration in order intake.

“We are faced with import prices that in some cases lie well below production costs in the EU. We therefore urgently need appropriate trade protection to establish fair competitive conditions for this strategically important product.

“This also concerns around 1,200 skilled jobs, which we aim to safeguard at our sites in Gelsenkirchen and Isbergues. We are engaged in intensive and constructive dialogue with the European Commission and hope for the prompt introduction of effective safeguards.”

Thyssenkrupp outlined that the flood of imports has led to a dramatic reduction in order volumes, leading to a significant underutilisation of European production facilities.

Thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel is one of Europe’s two remaining producers of grain-oriented electrical steel, a prominent material in the energy industry, as it is used in transformers for substations and wind turbines.