« Arcelor Mittal » decided to reduce the production in all its factories in the world, including Al Hadjar Company in Annaba, east of Algeria, with 50% of the total production due to the drop in global demand for iron and steel products, particularly flat products that are used in cars industry, as well as the decline in global demand for concrete iron.

• Ismail Kouadria, head of the trade union in Arcelor Mittal Annaba told Echrouk that the decision by the department of the company aims to absorb the surplus production in the global market because of the global financial crisis which curbed the demand for iron and steel in the world, a process that will allow the reduction of the world demand for this product which contribute in raising the prices once again during the next few months.
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• “Al Hadjar Company’s daily production dropped to 2400 tons of long iron products, compared to 4000 tons in the normal times. It has important opportunities to increase its iron production thanks to the substantial rise in the national demand for long products, wires and particularly reinforced steel, a demand estimated of 4 million tons per year. Currently Algeria produces only 600.000 tons of iron raising the national deficit to 3.6 million tons per year. Iron is imported from Ukraine, Turkey and Italy”, he added.
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• Kouadria said the Algerian market do not benefit from any concessions in the area of prices, because “Arcelor Mittal” applied the same international price per ton of iron in the local market.
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• “Prices are on the rise in the recent weeks from 34.000 dinars to 40.000 dinars per ton, a price that allows the company to achieve reasonable profits compared to those of the world companies”, he added.
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• Vincent Le Gouik was appointed new General Manager of “Arcellor Mittal” Annaba, east of Algeria, replacing the former GM Bernard Bosquet, who has retired. The new French GM will begin his new functions next 1st June.