HARRISBURG, Pa. — This summer, Cleveland-Cliffs, a prominent steel manufacturing company, will temporarily halt operations at three of its steel plants. The company announced this decision on Friday, attributing it to a downturn in demand and unfavorable pricing for certain products, particularly high-carbon steel sheets.
Facilities in Steelton and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, as well as one in Riverdale, Illinois, are slated for indefinite idling due to what Cleveland-Cliffs describes as “insufficient demand and pricing.” The company emphasized that this decision is unrelated to the tariffs implemented under President Donald Trump.
“These temporary, indefinite idles are a necessary response to insufficient demand and pricing for the products the affected facilities produce, including rail, specialty plate, and high-carbon sheet; all of which fall outside of Cliffs’ core business focus,” the company stated.
The shutdowns, which are set to take effect at the end of a 60-day notice period required by federal law, are expected to commence around June 30. During this time, approximately 950 employees will face unemployment as Cleveland-Cliffs implements these measures. It is important to note, however, that the company’s flat-rolled steel production will remain unaffected by these changes.
In recent weeks, Cleveland-Cliffs had also declared plans to either idle or partially pause operations at two iron ore mines in Minnesota, which would impact around 630 workers. Furthermore, in March, the company announced the idling of a Dearborn, Michigan steel plant, affecting approximately 600 employees because of “weak automotive production in the United States.”
The steelmaker mentioned optimism regarding future operations in Dearborn, stating, “We believe that, once President Trump’s policies take full effect and automotive production is re-shored, we should be able to resume steel production at Dearborn.”
On a positive note, Cleveland-Cliffs revealed intentions to restart operations at its blast furnace in Cleveland, which had been previously idled last year.