According to Salzgitter AG, HKM permanently shut Blast Furnace A after more than 53 years of production. The furnace produced approximately 93 million metric tons of pig iron during its operating history. HKM’s two blast furnaces together produced about 4 million metric tons of pig iron in the previous year.
MetalMate summary of the linked evidenceCommercial context
Analysis: The permanent closure removes a long-running blast-furnace asset while HKM develops electric-arc-furnace capacity. The period before the EAF’s scheduled completion in 2029 will be important for assessing the site’s production continuity and capacity transition.
MetalMate analysis- Salzgitter AG said the planned EAF will have capacity of up to 2.5 million metric tons per year and a 285-metric-ton tap weight.
- Construction began in August 2026, and completion is planned for 2029; this remains a project schedule rather than an implemented outcome.
- Germany’s federal government and North Rhine-Westphalia have awarded €200 million in public funding to the project.
Outlook: Monitor whether construction remains on schedule for 2029 and whether the planned EAF achieves its stated annual capacity of up to 2.5 million metric tons.
Source & methodology +
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- Article status
- Updated · Version 2
- Source date
- Not supplied
- MetalMate publication
- 27 September 2026
- Verification
- Automated evidence checks; not human reviewed
Final tap from Blast Furnace A at HKM in Duisburg — Salzgitter AG
MetalMate provides an English summary; consult the original wording.
Letzter Abstich an Hochofen A bei HKM in Duisburg — Salzgitter AG
MetalMate provides an English summary; consult the original wording.