ArcelorMittal plans over BRL 10B in Brazil as imports ease

ArcelorMittal is preparing a new investment cycle between BRL 10 billion and BRL 12 billion in Brazil through 2029 and 2030. The company had previously warned it could halt investments in the country if the government did not restrict Chinese steel inflows. Relief has arrived as total Brazilian steel imports are projected to decline 15% in 2026.

The share of Chinese products in Brazilian steel imports fell to 50% during the first eight months of 2026, down from 64% in 2025. In 2025, total rolled steel imports into Brazil had jumped 20.5% to 5.7 million metric tons, creating strong competition for domestic mills.

ArcelorMittal is currently executing a strategic portfolio of BRL 12 billion in projects across Brazil as of September 30, 2026. That work forms the remaining part of a BRL 25 billion multi-year program started in 2022. The new plans under consideration include up to BRL 5.0 billion to expand the cold strip mill at the Tubarão facility through 2029.

The steelmaker is also evaluating another BRL 5.0 billion expansion at its Pecém plant through 2029 to add 1.5 million metric tons of annual hot-rolled coil capacity. ArcelorMittal Brasil operates 15.5 million metric tons of total annual steelmaking capacity, accounting for 42% of Brazilian crude steel output.

Alongside steelmaking, the company produces 8 million metric tons of iron ore annually in Minas Gerais and recycles 3 million metric tons of ferrous scrap each year. Scrap-fed electric arc furnaces supply 75% of its long steel output. Through the first eight months of 2026, Brazilian operations shipped 1.77 million metric tons of slabs to the United States and 1.04 million metric tons to Europe.