Due to a reduction of its steelmaking capacity and closures in the UK, Corus has cut 1,250 jobs and a further 2,200 jobs will be affected by the changes. This is the latest blow to have an impact on the beleaguered UK refractory market in the last two years. Corus is casing steelmaking and hot rolling at its Stocksbridge works and will re focus operations at Teeside, making it an international supplier of slabs and blooms. The Teeside plant will no longer supply steel for Corus, but will be able to sell its output on the international market. Industry observers have been reported to criticise the Teeside decision, saying the Teeside plant would struggle to find a market for its steel and that Corus could be forced to mothball the plant or sell it off, if it did not start making money.
