According to local media reports, the Argentine steel company ArcelorMittal Acindar announced a temporary week-long work stoppage at its Villa Constitución plant in response to the ongoing deterioration in domestic steel demand.
The suspension affects the release of the rental and will be valid until Friday, October 3. The plant has been operating at 50 percent capacity since 2024, reflecting continued weakness in the industrial and construction sectors. Production dropped to 600,000 tons in 2024, a sharp drop from 1.2 million tons in 2023. This decrease is closely related to a 12.4 percent decline in industrial activity and a 19.5 percent drop in construction volumes in 2024 compared to 2023, which are key drivers of steel demand in Argentina.
ArcelorMittal Acindar operates five plants in the country: Villa Constitución, Rosario, San Nicolás, La Tablada and Villa Mercedes. The current shutdown affects only the Villa Constitución site, but company officials do not rule out extending similar measures to other locations if demand remains low.
Market prospects: weak demand and import growth
Steel consumption in Argentina remains under pressure amid a slowdown in the construction sector, which has historically been one of the largest consumers of steel.
According to the Argentine Steel Chamber, crude steel production in June 2025 was 320,100 tons, which is 8.6 percent year-on-year.
