European steel producers have been limiting their outputs in accordance with the persistently weak levels of current demand, especially from the automotive industry, while the region recovers from Covid-19-pandemic lockdowns.
Tata Steel Europe
Tata Steel Europe was reported to have been working at about a 70% capacity utilization rate from April 1 to June 30, the company said in a provisional report for the period, published on Thursday July 9.
"While Europe did not impose a complete lockdown, the weak macroeconomic situation was further affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. In line with this environment, our production levels in Europe were ramped down to around 70% utilization," the company said.
"Key steel consuming sectors such as automotive and construction continue to be under pressure although the demand for packaging material has been robust," it added.
Tata Steel Europe has two integrated blast furnace-equipped steelmaking sites: one at IJmuiden in the Netherlands, the other at Port Talbot in South Wales, UK. Both plants produce slab, hot- and cold-rolled coil, and galvanized coil. The IJmuiden site has capacity to produce 7.50 million tonnes...