Liberty Steel prepares for final exit from Belgium and Luxembourg

Liberty Steel’s plants in Luxembourg (Dudelange) and Belgium (Liège) appear to be nearing final closure. More than two years after operations were halted, no buyers have been found for these assets. Informed sources cite EU import quotas, which discourage potential investors from outside the bloc, as the main reason for the collapse of negotiations. This was reported by Kallanish.

In May, the sale of the Dudelange plant was officially suspended after Turkish company Tosyali reportedly withdrew from the deal. Although another potential buyer recently visited the plant, sources indicate that the company is also from outside the EU and is therefore subject to restrictions on imports of hot-rolled coils.

“The key problem is the complexity of importing steel coils from outside the EU. As long as these quotas remain in place, it will be impossible to restart the Dudelange and Liège plants,” one of Kallanish’s interlocutors explained.

Trade unions report that the Luxembourg government has tried to negotiate with European institutions to resolve the situation, but without success. In July, a special career fair was even held in Luxembourg for former plant employees.

«The areas of Liège and Dudelange are now abandoned. Where there used to be products, there are now trees,» the source concludes.

Meanwhile, ArcelorMittal Belgium has confirmed the purchase of part of the former Liberty Steel asset in Liège, specifically the Galva 5 hot-dip galvanizing line in Flemalle. The deal also includes the CEPI repair shops and a water treatment plant.

After nine months of technical upgrades, ArcelorMittal plans to restart production in 2026. Galva 5 manufactures galvanized products for the automotive and construction industries.

According to the European trade union organisation industriAll Europe, Liberty Steel Liège’s bankruptcy announcement was a sad but expected outcome of a long period of irresponsible corporate governance and political inaction by the Liberty Steel group.

A similar situation is observed at other Liberty Steel plants in Europe, where employees have also faced injustice and a lack of protection. Meanwhile, the company’s management remains unaccountable for its decisions.