Reuters reported that ArcelorMittal will restart two idled blast furnaces in the United States, while a union official said a US Steel Corporation furnace is also being prepared to reopen as the industry slowly rebounds from recession.

The news of steel production returning in America's industrial heartland came as statistics showed world steel production in July rose to its highest this year, even though US steelmakers are still operating at barely half capacity.

ArcelorMittal said that it will resume production at its number 6 blast furnace at Indiana Harbor, East Chicago, Indiana, in early October. It also said that in response to improving market demand, it will restart the C 5 blast furnace, steel shop, hot mill and other operations in Cleveland in mid September.

US Steel declined to say whether it was restarting a furnace at its Great Lakes Works in Ecorse/River Rouge, Michigan, but a local official of the United Steelworkers Union said the furnace was being readied to fire up again.

Mr Marc Barragan president of USW Local 1299 said that "I haven't been officially notified, but hundreds of my members have been called back to prepare for it to restart."

(Sourced from www.reuters.com)