ArcelorMittal has been keen for some time to break into the domestic Indian steel market because it is one of the few parts of the world where it does not have steel production assets. It has previously described the acquisition as presenting a unique opportunity “to establish a significant footprint, with substantial expansion potential, in the high-growth Indian steel market.”
The company had earlier announced plans to build an integrated steel plant in the Indian state of Odisha with capacity for 12 million tonnes per year, but
these were scrapped in 2013 because it was unable to obtain land and secure iron ore supplies.
Along with the Essar takeover,
ArcelorMittal is working on a joint venture to produce steel for the automotive sector with state-run Steel Authority of India (Sail).
Essar Steel is an integrated steel mill with capacity at its steel works in Hazira, Gujarat, to produce...
