AP reported that United States Steel Corporation is temporarily shutting down one of the two furnaces at its southwestern Illinois plant and another in Indiana.

It said that a furnace at Granite City Works and another in Gary will be temporarily shut down for repairs.

US Steel's announcement came the same day it reported third quarter losses of USD 303 million. It was the company's third consecutive quarter of losses.

Retired Granite City Works employee and union member Gary Gaines estimates that 150 to 200 steelworkers work at the affected Illinois furnace.

The factory late last year was idled until this summer after the bottom abruptly fell out of the steel market as part of a global recession.

(Sourced from Associated Press)