AP reported that Cliffs Natural Resources Inc plans to boost production of iron ore pellets at its Michigan operations above previously announced levels.

The company says production at its Empire and Tilden mines in Marquette County will increase by more than 600,000 tons, to a projected total of 7.3 million tons.

But Dale Hemmila, a spokesman for Cleveland-based Cliffs, cautioned that the increased production doesn't reflect a turnaround in the domestic steel industry.

Hemmila tells The Mining Journal of Marquette the increase will allow the company to drop previously announced plans to shut down the Empire mine for seven weeks and the Tilden Mine for 26 days over the summer, keeping more than 1,200 workers on the job.

Approximately 370 workers were laid off earlier this year.

(Sourced from AP)