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ArcelorMittal Belgium’s Electrification Boosts Steel Production Outlook Amid Positive Market Trends

ArcelorMittal Belgium is poised for a significant transformation in steel production, driven by the construction of the Baekeland high-voltage substation, as reported in ArcelorMittal Belgium advances low-emission steelmaking with new high-voltage substation. This strategic development is expected to enhance energy supply for electric arc furnace operations, crucially aligning with the company’s decarbonization goals. Satellite data confirms an upward trend in activity levels across key plants, correlating with electrification efforts.

Measured Activity Overview

Bar chart and satellite map of steel production activity in Belgium

In June 2025, the mean steel plant activity in Belgium reached a low of 10%, but by July, this significantly climbed to 36%. The ArcelorMittal Gent steel plant showed the highest activity, reaching a peak of 57% throughout September and into October. Conversely, Aperam’s activity dipped by 2% from July to October. Notably, the shifts coincide with the increased visibility of ArcelorMittal’s initiatives in sustainable steelmaking, particularly the developments reported in Construction of the Baekeland substation for ArcelorMittal has begun in Belgium.

Aperam Stainless Belgium Genk steel plant

Operating primarily with electric arc furnaces, Aperam’s Genk facility has shown activity levels fluctuating around 36% in recent months. The plant’s current capacity for crude steel production is 1,200 tonnes annually, producing stainless steel and cold-rolled products. The decline from 38% in July to 36% in September reflects a slight slowdown, with no direct connection to recent electrification news.

Thy Marcinelle Charleroi steel plant

Thy Marcinelle has consistently maintained activity levels around 38-39%. As an electric-based facility with an annual capacity of 850 tonnes, it specializes in finished rolled products. The plant’s stability points to sound operational management, but limited correlations can be drawn to developments in electrification.

ArcelorMittal Gent steel plant

ArcelorMittal Gent, with an annual capacity of 5,000 tonnes, shows a robust activity level consistently at 57% since August. This aligns with the strategic initiatives discussed in Belgium’s ArcelorMittal is developing low-emission steel production thanks to a new high-voltage substation. The planned switch to electric arc furnaces likely supports this robust performance, in anticipation of improved energy resource access by 2030.

Evaluated Market Implications

The developments at ArcelorMittal Belgium indicate a turning point towards sustainable production. Given that the Gent facility has reached stable activity levels of 57%, this suggests an increasing production capacity while transitioning to low-carbon technologies. Buyers should consider strengthening procurement from ArcelorMittal to ensure steady supplies amid potential challenges posed by Aperam’s declining output and profitability issues noted in ArcelorMittal Belgium takes step towards electrification.

In summary, procurement strategies should prioritize sourcing from plants ramping up into electric steel production, especially ArcelorMittal Gent, while remaining mindful of fluctuating activity at Aperam and Thy facilities.