ArcelorMittal will restart blast furnace Number 1 at Fos-sur-Mer during June 2026. The French coastal facility returns to dual-unit operations after extensive maintenance extending the furnace's productive lifespan. Blast furnace Number 2 resumed production during December 2025 following an almost three-month shutdown caused by a devastating fire. The company cites confidence in European Union protective measures including carbon border adjustments and import restrictions as essential preconditions justifying this capacity expansion.

The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism's definitive phase began January 1 2026, imposing carbon costs on imported goods. Existing EU safeguard measures expire June 30 2026, with replacement tariff-rate quotas expected to continue protecting domestic producers. Parallel restart preparations at ArcelorMittal Poland's Dąbrowa Górnicza steelworks suggest coordinated continental strategy responding to perceived improvements in European steelmaking conditions. The company's calculated bet rests upon accurate prediction of Brussels' continued commitment to industrial protection rather than fundamental competitiveness improvements.