French Steel Market Poised for Growth: New EAF Investments and Restarted Capacity Boost Outlook

France’s steel sector is showing strong positive momentum, driven by new investments in decarbonization and increased production capacity. ArcelorMittal’s commitment to its decarbonization plan, as outlined in “ArcelorMittal has committed to resume the implementation of the French decarbonization plan in line with EU measures,” is coupled with Marcegaglia’s increased investment in restarting its FOS-sur-Mer plant, detailed in “Marcegaglia increases investment in the restart of its plant in France to €800 million.” These developments suggest a strengthening of the French steel industry. However, a direct relationship between these news articles and satellite-observed activity levels cannot be explicitly established based on the provided data.

Bar chart and satellite map of steel production activity in France

The average steel plant activity in France has shown an overall upward trend from November 2024 to May 2025, increasing from 12% to 38%. Saarstahl Ascoval Saint-Saulve steel plant activity registered the highest value in May at 78%, rising steadily over the observed period. LME Trith-Saint-Léger steel plant showed a steep decline in May 2025 to only 3% activity. The Riva Sam Montereau steel plant and Riva Iton Seine Bonnieres Sur Seine steel plant also showed drops in activity in May 2025 to 44% and 48% respectively.

Riva Sam Montereau steel plant

The Riva Sam Montereau steel plant, located in Île-de-France, operates using EAF technology with a crude steel capacity of 720 thousand tons per annum (ttpa), producing semi-finished and finished rolled products such as billets, coils, wire, mesh, and rebar. Satellite data indicates a declining activity level, from a peak of 68% in January 2025 to 44% in May 2025. No explicit connection to any specific news article could be established.

LME Trith-Saint-Léger steel plant

Located in Hauts-de-France, the LME Trith-Saint-Léger steel plant has a crude steel capacity of 850 ttpa using EAF technology, producing slabs, hot-rolled products, and coils. Its activity levels experienced a dramatic drop to 3% in May 2025, after remaining relatively stable around 47% during the previous months. No explicit connection to any specific news article could be established.

Saarstahl Ascoval Saint-Saulve steel plant

The Saarstahl Ascoval Saint-Saulve steel plant, also in Hauts-de-France, has a crude steel capacity of 730 ttpa and utilizes EAF technology to produce continuous cast round bars, forged products, and billets. The plant has seen a steady increase in activity over the observed period, reaching 78% in May 2025. No explicit connection to any specific news article could be established.

Riva Iton Seine Bonnieres Sur Seine steel plant

Based in Île-de-France, the Riva Iton Seine Bonnieres Sur Seine steel plant has a crude steel capacity of 550 ttpa with EAF technology, focusing on billets and rebar production. Activity levels fluctuated between 39% and 48%, showing a slight increase to 48% in May. No explicit connection to any specific news article could be established.

Riva Sam Neuves-Maisons steel plant

The Riva Sam Neuves-Maisons steel plant, situated in Grand Est, has a crude steel capacity of 850 ttpa, employing EAF technology to produce billets, coils, wire, and rebar. The plant’s activity significantly increased in May 2025 to 53%, up from 35% the previous month. No explicit connection to any specific news article could be established.

Evaluated Market Implications

Given the positive market sentiment and planned investments in decarbonization alongside the relatively stable activity of most plants, potential supply disruptions are not immediately apparent across the entire French steel market. However, the sharp decline in activity at the LME Trith-Saint-Léger steel plant warrants close monitoring.

Recommended Procurement Actions:

  • Monitor LME Trith-Saint-Léger: Steel buyers reliant on products (slabs, hot rolled products, coils) from the LME Trith-Saint-Léger steel plant should actively seek alternative supply sources due to the significant drop in observed plant activity in May. Engage with the plant’s management to ascertain the cause of the disruption and its expected duration.
  • Assess Impact of ArcelorMittal’s Investments: Given ArcelorMittal’s commitment to invest in new EAF capacity as outlined in “ArcelorMittal confirms its intention to invest in the decarbonization of its Dunkirk plant“, steel buyers should engage with ArcelorMittal to understand how these investments will impact product availability, pricing, and the sustainability profile of their steel supply.
  • Evaluate Marcegaglia’s Restarted Capacity: Buyers should explore opportunities to source semi-finished steel and stainless steel products from Marcegaglia’s restarted FOS-sur-Mer plant. As stated in “Marcegaglia increases investment in the restart of its plant in France to €800 million,” this facility aims to supply 30% of the company’s needs, potentially offering competitive pricing and mitigating supply chain risks.