Bloomberg reported that Tenaris SA will shut its main Italian plant for 13 weeks starting August 22nd 2009 as demand slumps because of the worst recession since World War II.

Mr Mirco Rota official of the Fiom union said that "We went too quickly from record years of production to temporary layoffs in a few months. After the summer Tenaris executives will tell us what their plans are for the Italian plants."

Mr Vincenzo Crapanzano CEO of Tenaris Dalmine said that it expects a decline in production of as much as 60% in the second half of 2009.

Output at the Dalmine plant in the northern city of Bergamo has fallen recently as much as 70% to 30,000 tonnes a month from 80,000 tonnes per month a year ago.

(Sourced from www.bloomberg.net)