ArcelorMittal Monlevade
The history of steel production in João Monlevade dates back to 1921, when the "Companhia Siderúrgica Belgo-Mineira" was founded. It was created by the acquisition of the original company ´Companhia Siderúrgica Mineira´ by the Luxembourg-based company ARBED.
The plant was built according to the most modern European parameters in the first half of the 1930s, production started in 1937 and within ten years almost half of all steel production in Brazil was coming from Monlevade.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the works underwent a major modernisation with new LD converters installed and Morgan-type finishing stands added to the wire rod mill.
The original charcoal furnaces were replaced in 2000 by a large capacity blast furnace "A".
In 2002 Belgo became part of the Arcelor Group, and in 2006 ArcelorMittal. Today it operates as part of ArcelorMittal Brasil´s Aços Longos division.
The second blast furnace, a new steel plant and an agglomeration plant are planned to be added by 2026.