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Try the Free AI Search EngineFrench Steel Market Poised for Growth: ArcelorMittal Investments and Plant Activity Surge Signal Positive Outlook
France’s steel market shows promising signs of growth, driven by ArcelorMittal’s significant investments and observed increases in plant activity. This positive outlook is supported by news of “ArcelorMittal Confirms Intention to Build €1.2 Billion EAF in Dunkirk“, “ArcelorMittal confirms its intention to invest in the decarbonization of its Dunkirk plant“, “ArcelorMittal has committed to resume the implementation of the French decarbonization plan in line with EU measures“, “The European steel giant is preparing to restart green projects after the summer holidays“, and “ArcelorMittal committed to restarting French decarbonization plan following EU measures“. These investments, particularly the new EAF in Dunkirk, aim to bolster domestic production and support the European Commission’s Steel and Metal Action Plan. While no direct, immediate correlation between these announced plans and the monthly plant activity changes can be definitively established from the provided data, the overall sentiment is optimistic.
Across France, the mean steel plant activity has demonstrated an upward trend, increasing from 12% in November 2024 to 38% in May 2025, indicating a general recovery and increased production. While there was a dip in average activity in April 2025, it rebounded strongly in May.
Riva Sam Montereau steel plant, located in Île-de-France, operates using electric arc furnace (EAF) technology with a crude steel capacity of 720 thousand tons per annum (ttpa), producing semi-finished and finished rolled products. The plant’s activity started high at 67% in December 2024, peaked at 68% in January 2025, and then showed a downward trend to 44% in May 2025. This recent decline might indicate a potential adjustment in production levels, but no direct connection to any of the named news articles can be established.
ArcelorMittal Méditerranée Fos sur Mer steel plant, situated in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, is an integrated BF-BOF plant with a crude steel capacity of 4,000 ttpa. It produces slabs and hot-rolled coil for various sectors, including automotive and construction. Its activity has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 39% and 41% from December 2024 to May 2025. The stability does not directly reflect the announcements of significant investments and decarbonization efforts by ArcelorMittal as highlighted in the news articles, suggesting these plans have not yet impacted short-term production levels at this specific plant, and that the initial impact is more closely connected to the Dunkirk plant.
Saarstahl Ascoval Saint-Saulve steel plant, located in Hauts-de-France, utilizes EAF technology with a crude steel capacity of 730 ttpa, specializing in continuous cast round bars and forged products. This plant showed a consistent upward trend in activity, increasing from 63% in December 2024 to a high of 78% in May 2025, significantly exceeding the national average. While this growth could be linked to the overall positive market sentiment and potential anticipation of increased demand due to ArcelorMittal’s investments, no direct link can be explicitly established from the provided news articles.
Given ArcelorMittal’s planned investments, particularly the €1.2 billion EAF in Dunkirk (“ArcelorMittal Confirms Intention to Build €1.2 Billion EAF in Dunkirk”), steel buyers should anticipate a potential shift in the supply chain dynamics. The focus on decarbonization and modernization, as indicated in “ArcelorMittal committed to restarting French decarbonization plan following EU measures” and “The European steel giant is preparing to restart green projects after the summer holidays”, suggests a move towards higher-quality, sustainably produced steel. Procurement professionals should prioritize establishing relationships with suppliers committed to sustainable practices, such as ArcelorMittal, to secure long-term supply. Specifically, given that Riva Sam Montereau steel plant activity has decreased by nearly 35% in 6 months steel buyers need to identify alternative supply chains to avoid potential supply disruptions in the short term. Actively monitor the progress of ArcelorMittal’s Dunkirk project and Saarstahl Ascoval Saint-Saulve steel plant’s output to assess potential future supply chain shifts.