Corus to extend production cuts beyond December

In order to align its production levels with demand in the European market, Corus last month announced plans to reduce its third-quarter production (Oct-Dec 2008) by 1mn tons of crude steel, equivalent to 20% of its output. Corus has now decided to extend the production cuts beyond December.
The company expects to produce about 30% less crude steel than planned during the two quarters to the end of March 2009. Consequently Corus will temporarily idle one blast furnace at each of its Scunthorpe, Ijmuiden and Port Talbot works and will also adjust output levels on its downstream production units to suit market conditions in their respective regions and end-use sectors.