Key questions for ArcelorMittal this quarter: 

1. According to SteelWatch’s new Blast Furnace Emissions Calculator, the company risks nearly doubling its cumulative CO2 emissions by 2046 if its aging blast furnace fleet is relined. Will ArcelorMittal commit to not further invest in prolonging the life of its coal-based blast furnaces in Brazil, Canada, South Africa and Spain that will likely face relining decisions soon?

2. In light of the recent Disclose investigation and the several recent human rights grievances filed with ArcelorMittal Liberia, what is the company doing to ensure its Liberian subsidiary complies with UN human rights frameworks and remediates impacts in collaboration with affected communities, and how will it avoid similar impacts in other parts of its operations?

3. Following the decision to discontinue steelmaking in Duisburg, what evidence can ArcelorMittal provide that its European operations are being managed under a coordinated industrial transition plan, rather than through individual investment and closure decisions driven primarily by short-term commercial viability?

4. As ArcelorMittal Mines and Infrastructure Canada (AMIC) has received federal funding to expand its Port-Cartier pelletisation plant to produce 10 Mt of direct reduced iron (DRI)-grade pellets, what are ArcelorMittal's plans to use these DRI-grade iron ore pellets in a DRI plant in its own operation?
    

News from AM’s global operations: 

Group level news:
 

SteelWatch calculator highlights potential emissions risks from ArcelorMittal's ageing blast furnaces
SteelWatch Blast Furnace Emissions Calculator | October 2026 
A new tool from SteelWatch estimates the potential cumulative CO2 emissions from extending the operating lives of ArcelorMittal's ageing blast furnaces. Based on an assumed average operating life of 17 years, the calculator models potential relinings by 2030 across the company's operations in Brazil, Canada, South Africa, Spain and Ukraine, highlighting the emissions risks of continued coal-based steelmaking.

Brazil

ArcelorMittal’s Andrade Iron Ore Mine Completes IRMA Audit
Responsible Mining Assurance | 7 July
An independent audit published by the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) rated ArcelorMittal's Andrade mine in Brazil as "Does not meet" on a critical requirement concerning remediation of known human rights impacts, while rating requirements relating to stakeholder engagement and community health and safety as "Partially meets".

Canada

Hamilton steel-maker delays toxic cleanup, again — this time, the reason is U.S. tariffs
The Narwal | 21 October
Canadian investigative news outlet The Narwhal reports that ArcelorMittal Dofasco has yet to clean up toxic sediment and heavy metals harmful to aquatic life in its Kenilworth Avenue boat slip in Hamilton Harbour. According to the investigation, the company was identified as the sole proponent of the remediation project, originally scheduled for completion in June 2017. More than nine years later, the proposed containment structures remain unbuilt. In a May 2026 update cited by The Narwhal, the company said there was “no further update or progress”, blaming the strain USA tariffs. The Narwhal points out that the tariffs don’t explain the decade of delays before them.

Ottawa backs ArcelorMittal’s Quebec expansion with $125M
The Logic  | 6 August
Canadian news outlet The Logic reports that the federal government has committed CAD 125 million to support the expansion of ArcelorMittal's iron ore pellet plant in Port-Cartier, Quebec. According to the report, the funding provided through Canada's Strategic Response Fund, supports a project to expand production of high-purity direct reduction (DR)-grade pellets for lower-carbon steelmaking.

France

"It rained large glitter, a black rain": in Dunkirk, residents are worried about suspicious emissions from the ArcelorMittal plant
Vert | 13 October | In French
French environmental outlet Vert reports that residents have described black and orange dust deposits on homes and gardens near ArcelorMittal's Dunkirk steelworks. Residents describe unusual fallout during summer 2026 and raise concerns about the plant's emissions.

France's most polluting factory? An immersion into ArcelorMittal's blast furnaces
Brut | 6 September  | In French 
French media outlet Brut travelled to ArcelorMittal’s steel plant in Dunkirk to investigate the environmental and social impacts of the factory and its supply chain, possible solutions, and the debate around nationalisation. The documentary also examines the economics of steel production in Dunkirk.

ArcelorMittal restarts BF at Fos-sur-Mer
Eurometal | 6 August 
Eurometal reports that ArcelorMittal restarted operations of Blast Furnace (BF) No.1 at its Fos-sur-Mer steelworks in France at the end of July, meaning that the steelmaker is now operating all its BFs in Europe. The article points out that “BF No.1 had been idle since September 2023. The plant’s other unit, BF No.2, was restarted in December 2025 after an almost three-month stoppage following a fire. Earlier this year ArcelorMittal also resumed operation at its Asturias facility in Spain and at Dąbrowa Górnicza in Poland”.

Germany

ArcelorMittal to end primary steelmaking at Duisburg site
Eurometal | 3 September 
Eurometal reports that ArcelorMittal plans to end steel production at Duisburg-Ruhrort, Germany, by the end of 2027, closing its steelworks and billet mill and shifting to a rerolling model amid mounting economic pressures. According to the article, management has begun discussions with the site's 800 employees, with around 550 jobs reportedly at risk.

India

Is Green Steel Within Reach in India?
Transition Asia | 1 October  
A new report models the cost of ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel’s joint venture in India developing green hydrogen-based DRI. It calls for AM/NS India to commit to fuel-flexible DRI technology, and calls on financiers to “explicitly require Phase 2 to adopt a green DRI route rather than a conventional BF-BOF pathway to ensure capital resilience and mitigate financial vulnerability under tightening carbon regulations”. 

Italy

The court has upheld the decision to shut down the blast furnaces at the Acciaierie d’Italia steelworks
GMK Center | 14 September
GMK Center reports that the Milan Court of Appeal upheld an order to shut down and clean up the hot-end operations of the former Ilva steelworks in Taranto, citing inadequate environmental safeguards and risks to public health. The article discusses uncertainty over the future of the plant, which employs around 8,000 workers, as the Italian government explores options to maintain steel production, including a potential transition to electric arc furnaces and direct reduced iron technology. ArcelorMittal took over operations in 2018 and retained a 62% stake when Acciaierie d’Italia was established as a public-private partnership with state-owned Invitalia in 2021. In February 2024, the Italian government placed the company under extraordinary administration, transferring control to government-appointed commissioners and ending ArcelorMittal’s involvement in its management.

Liberia

ArcelorMittal: behind ‘French made’ steel, Liberia’s stolen land
Disclose | 12 October 
A new investigation from French media outlet Disclose reports allegations of unresolved human rights concerns about ArcelorMittal’s operations in Liberia. The allegations include land grabbing, water contamination, a lack of free, prior and informed consent for Mano and Gio communities, loss of livelihoods, and a lack of access to remedy. ArcelorMittal responded to the investigation, stating that it: “firmly rejects the allegations, conclusions and characterizations”. 

Banks are failing to prevent rights violations in Liberia despite financing link and clear warnings
BankTrack | 14 October
BankTrack’s reaction to the investigation from Disclose examines the obligations of banks financing ArcelorMittal under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. 

How Donald Trump secretly backed ArcelorMittal in Monrovia
Africa Intelligence | 2 September
An investigation by Africa Intelligence reports that Donald Trump contacted Liberian President Joseph Boakai to advocate for ArcelorMittal, following a request for support from Lakshmi Mittal. The article also reports that Liberia subsequently ratified an amended mining agreement extending ArcelorMittal's rights until 2050 and securing dedicated railway capacity, while opening the network to other users.

For Environmental Violations, EPA Fines ArcelorMittal Liberia
Liberia Environmental Protection Agency | 31 August
Liberia's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it had imposed a USD 400,000 administrative fine on ArcelorMittal Liberia and ordered an additional USD 100,000 payment following an investigation into pollution complaints linked to the company's mining operations in Nimba County.

South Africa

What will it take to reforge ArcelorMittal?
Financial Mail | 20 August 
South African publication Financial Mail examines the financial difficulties facing ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA), including the closure of its long-steel operations, associated restructuring costs and its dependence on government-backed financial support. The article reports that AMSA does not expect to repay ZAR 2.06 billion in funding provided by South Africa's Industrial Development Corporation to defer the closures, while uncertainty remains over a potential transaction with the state-owned financier.

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