US-based coal producer Cliffs Natural Resources has announced that it will restart iron ore pellet production at its Northshore mine in Minnesota by May 15 this year.
Cliffs' chairman, president and CEO Lourenco Goncalves stated that the avalanche of unfairly traded steel hitting the US since last year has negatively affected its clients' production levels and, as a consequence, affected the company itself; however, with trade cases approaching their final stages and preliminary duties being announced, the volume of unfairly traded steel is starting to subside. According to Mr. Goncalves, as the demand from customers improves and their need for pellets approaches more normal levels, the company has decided to resume iron ore pellet production at its Northshore mine.
Cliffs' Northshore Mining iron ore operation is comprised of a mine and a taconite pellet processing facility located in Minnesota. The mine has approximately 540 employees.