U.S. Steel to Restart Blast Furnace as Market Recovers

(aerial photo courtesy: The Times of Northwest Indiana)

Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel (NYSE: X) says it is restarting blast furnace #4 at its Gary Works mill earlier than anticipated as the steel market recovers from the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic.

Our partners at The Times of Northwest Indiana report the steelmaker took the blast furnace offline in April for planned maintenance. But the company kept it idled as the healthcare crisis put a stranglehold on the steel industry. The company says it will restart the furnace Monday.

This spring, U.S. Steel warned the state it would temporarily furlough up to 3,800 steelworkers at Gary Works and the Midwest Plant in Portage.

U.S. Steel spokesperson Meghan Cox says most of the employees have been recalled, but the company continues to evaluate staffing needs.

The publication says the steel market has been showing strength as automakers resumed production.