On Wednesday 18 June 2025, Luxembourg-headquartered steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal announced that it has completed the acquisition of Nippon Steel Corporation’s (NSC) 50% equity stake in AM/NS Calvert.

ArcelorMittal, which already held the remaining stake, finalised the transaction under the definitive Equity Purchase Agreement signed by both parties on 11 October 2024.

The facility, now renamed ArcelorMittal Calvert, was originally acquired jointly by ArcelorMittal and NSC in 2014 from ThyssenKrupp for a total consideration of $1.55 billion. Initially built at a cost of approximately $5 billion, the plant began operations in 2010 and has an annual flat rolled steel production capacity of 5.3 million metric tonnes. The company noted that facility is one of the most advanced steel finishing operations in North America, with assets including:

  • a state-of-the-art hot strip mill (HSM) designed to roll advanced high strength steels (AHSS), Line Pipe & Stainless products;
  • a continuous pickling line (CPL) and coupled pickle line-tandem cold mill (PLTCM) optimised for auto production (including exposed);
  • coating and continuous annealing lines (galvanised, galvannealed, aluminised and cold rolled) capable of supplying advanced automotive grades such as Gen3 AHSS and press hardened steel (PHS).

According to ArcelorMittal, more than $2 billion in capital investments have been made since the 2014 acquisition to improve operational efficiency and expand product offerings for the US automotive and energy markets. These strategic investments include additional slab bays and cranes, a logistics centre designed to support high-volume pipe production and increased coil size, enhancements to three coating lines and the continuous annealing line, as well as a newly commissioned steelmaking facility with an annual capacity of 1.5 million metric tonnes of “low CO2 steel.”

The company noted that the new steelmaking facility, which completed commissioning and its first heat this month, will be capable of supplying exposed automotive grades. A new seven-year domestic slab supply agreement with NSC has also entered into effect, covering an average of 750,000 metric tonnes per year and ensuring that a significant portion of slab requirements will be “melted and poured in the United States.” ArcelorMittal added that it is currently assessing the feasibility of expanding steelmaking capacity at the site to further strengthen domestic US production.

According to ArcelorMittal, the new steelmaking facility is integrated with the company’s HBI (hot briquetted iron) plant in Texas and will allow Calvert to supply automotive customers with lower CO₂ embodied steel melted and poured in the United States.

In February 2025, ArcelorMittal announced plans to invest $1.2 billion in a new non-grain-oriented electrical steel (NOES) manufacturing facility at the Calvert site in Alabama. The plant is expected to produce up to 150,000 metric tonnes of NOES annually, targeting applications in the automotive and mobility sectors, renewable electricity generation, and broader industrial markets. The company stated that this investment aims to strengthen US manufacturing competitiveness and reduce dependency on imported electrical steel.

Project development is progressing on schedule. ArcelorMittal confirmed that all long-lead equipment orders have been placed and manufacturing of major process equipment is underway. Construction permits related to air and water have been granted, earthworks and piling are in progress, and work on the main construction packages has begun. The company expects first NOES production in 2027.

“ArcelorMittal has a long and proud history in the United States, a country which values the strategic importance of its steel industry. We are delighted to be further enhancing our presence in this important and attractive market with full ownership of Calvert,” said Aditya Mittal, CEO of ArcelorMittal. He added that the company had invested significantly in the site since 2014, transforming it into a key asset for producing high-quality, low-emissions steel. “We knew immediately that this was an asset with great potential,” he said, recalling his first visit to the facility in 2014.
ArcelorMittal also acknowledged the dedication of the Calvert workforce and said the site is positioned to remain “at the cutting edge” of steel production for advanced customer segments, including electrical steels, while maintaining a focus on safety.