Overview

• ArcelorMittal has announced 636 job cuts in France and plans to offshore 1,400 support roles to India and Poland, impacting its Dunkerque operations and beyond.
• The €850 million state-backed plan to decarbonize Dunkerque's steel production has stalled, with no progress on replacing blast furnaces with electric arc technology.
• The Dunkerque site underpins a regional industrial network, including the port, rail yard, and district heating systems, all of which face disruption due to reduced steel output.
• Unions and regional leaders, including Xavier Bertrand, are urging the French government to consider nationalizing ArcelorMittal France to secure jobs, sovereignty, and climate goals.
• Critics highlight ArcelorMittal's limited global decarbonization investments—just 2.5% of profits between 2021 and 2024—despite distributing $12 billion in dividends.