On July 22, 2024, ArcelorMittal Poland (AMP) announced the permanent closure of its remaining coke battery at the Krakow plant. This decision follows an anticipated rebound in steel demand that did not materialize. The coke battery was idled last November due to weak demand and a narrowed price differential between coke and coking coal.
AMP CEO Wojciech Koszuta stated that maintaining the hot idling of the battery was economically unviable due to the high cost of natural gas required to fuel the facility. The gradual decline in coke demand driven by decarbonization plans further influenced the decision.
During the hot idling period, 230 affected employees found work at other AMP units, while the remaining 70 workers will receive transfer offers to other units.
AMP’s crude steel production fell to 3.1 million tonnes in 2023, a 9% year-on-year decrease, representing a drop of over 2 million tonnes in the last five years. This decline follows the 2020 closure of AMP’s Krakow blast furnace, weakening European steel demand, and rising import shares.
The Krakow plant sources slabs from AMP’s Dabrowa Gornicza works for its hot and cold-rolled coil mills, galvanizing, and coil painting lines. AMP plans to commission a zinc, aluminum, and magnesium (ZAM) coil coating line in 2025.
