MEPS’s global steel production and capacity round-up

The acquisition Spanish flat steel processor Galvacor, US Steel’s plans for a new DRI plant at Big River Steel and South Korea’s new antidumping duties all feature in MEPS’s latest global steelmaking capacity round-up.

MEPS’s monthly summary of steel industry developments from around the world features articles which were previously featured in the November editions of the European Steel Review, International Steel Review and Stainless Steel Review.

Contact MEPS for details of how to subscribe to these monthly publications, which provide steel prices, market commentaries and 12-month steel price forecasts.

Europe

Galvacolor

Galvacolor’s acquisition by Brazilian steelmaker CSN has been approved by the Spanish National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC).

The flat steel processor in Jerez de los Caballeros, southwestern Spain, has been owned by CL Grupo Industrial since 2020 and was revived after several years of inactivity through an initial EUR20 million investment.

Galvacolor has an annual production capacity of up to 400,000 tonnes per year, comprised of 100,000 tonnes per year of pickled and oiled coil, 100,000 tonnes per year of cold rolled coil and 200,000 tonnes per year of galvanised products. It also produces pre-painted steel.

Celsa France

Celsa France has completed the modernisation of its wire rod mill in Bayonne.

The work involved the installation of a new 10-stand finishing block and a 1,200mm diameter coiling station, replacing the equipment currently in operation at the site.

The new equipment will improve mill productivity by allowing for stable rolling speeds of up to 105 metres per second, introducing the ability to process low, medium and high carbon grades.

Industeel

Industeel Belgium, part of ArcelorMittal, has commissioned SMS group to modernise the walking beam furnace at its Charleroi plate mill.

The upgrade includes a full furnace relining, along with installation of new burners, control systems and a heat recuperator. Once completed, the upgraded furnace, originally built in 1969, will be capable of operating on natural gas and up to 70% hydrogen mix, significantly reducing emissions.

The removal of the existing furnace and installation of the new equipment will be carried out during a six-week outage in summer 2026.

North America

Big River Steel

US Steel has announced plans to build a new direct reduced iron (DRI) plant at its Big River Steel subsidiary in Osceola, Arkansas.

The facility, which will strengthen the raw material supply chain for its electric arc furnaces, will be completed in 2027, according to state filings.

Big River Steel’s DRI plant will use pellets sourced from US Steel’s Keetac iron ore facility, in Minnesota. The investment in the site forms part of Nippon Steel’s USD11 billion modernisation plans for US Steel, following the Japanese company’s acquisition of the steelmaker earlier in 2025.

North American Stainless

North American Stainless has confirmed that it plans to modernise its rolling line in Ghent, Kentucky, with the installation of a new mill finishing block.

The new equipment is designed to increase efficiency, improve product quality and expand the range of stainless and speciality alloy bar products produced at the site.

Once completed, the upgraded line will have an annual rolling capacity of around 200,000 short tons, producing round, hexagonal and speciality rebar products in both straight and coiled form. Commissioning is scheduled for the third quarter of 2026.

Asia

Jiyuan Iron and Steel

Jiyuan Iron and Steel is set to modernise the eight-strand continuous billet caster at its plant in Henan, China.

The upgrade, scheduled for completion in June 2026, will lift the site’s annual production capacity to more than one million tonnes and will enable the production of square billets ranging from 150mm to 210mm.

The project involves a complete redesign of the caster and the addition of new systems to improve control, stability and product consistency throughout the casting process. The revamped caster will produce high carbon and automotive steel grades.

Hebei Jinxi Iron and Steel

Hebei Jinxi Iron and Steel has contracted equipment manufacturer Primetals Technologies to supply two twin-strand continuous slab casters for its plant in Qianxi County, Hebei Province.

The two units will each have a capacity of 2.5 million tonnes per year. They will produce slabs with thicknesses ranging from 200mm to 230mm and with widths between 800mm and 1,800mm in a broad range of grades.

Installation of the new casters is underway, with commissioning scheduled for the end of 2026.

Trade Defence – South Korea

South Korean authorities have issued the definitive version of antidumping duties to be applied to imports of commodity grade steel plates sourced from China.

Under the new regulation, Baoshan Iron & Steel, Jiangsu Shagang Steel and Hunan Valin Xiangtan Iron & Steel will receive individual dumping rates of 27.9%, 29.6% and 32.3%, respectively. All other Chinese suppliers will receive a rate of 34.1%.

The measures against Chinese-origin plate imports have been amended since the initial investigation to exclude pressure vessel, wear-resistant and high-strength steel plate.

Xinhuang Metal Materials

Xinhuang Metal Materials has received environmental approval to build a new precision stainless cold rolling line.

The steelmaker, based in Lianping County, Guangdong province, will increase its annual output by 96,000 tonnes through the installation of the new line, producing 200-, 300- and 400-series stainless steels.

Xinhuang Metal Materials’ new equipment will be constructed at an existing workshop. It will include three four-roll mills along with two bright annealing furnaces.