Cleveland-Cliffs Laying Off Hundreds Amid 'Weak' Auto Market

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In a move that says just as much about the
state of the steel industry as the automotive

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industry, Cleveland Cliffs has confirmed that
it will lay off 600 workers from its Dearborn

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Works facility in Michigan.
Cleveland Cliffs is the 4th largest steelmaker

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in the United States and shipped out record
volumes to Automotive in 2023.

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Less than 2 years later, it says it will halt
parts of its Dearborn operation,

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including the blast furnace, BOF steel shop,
and continuous casting facilities,

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a move that's being described as a temporary.
To the current reality of weak automotive

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production in the United States.

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Other parts of the facility will remain active,
including the Dearborn pickling and galvanizing

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lines that employ 550 other workers.

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The shift, according to a company statement,
will allow it to operate more efficiently and

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in a more cost competitive way for the current
market environment.

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The announcement comes tight on the heels of
another, where Cleveland Cliff said it would

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temporarily lay off 630 other workers due to
the stoppage of two mines in Minnesota.

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Another move being largely pinned on a sluggish
automotive industry.

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Still, it's hard to know what the future holds
for a steel company that has done a lot of

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shifting over the years and is still in wait
and see mode.

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In the statement regarding the Dearborn layoffs,
Cleveland Cliffs sounded bullish.

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On the prospect of its long term growth hinging
on the results of proposed tariffs,

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it said in part, we believe that once President
Trump's policies take full effect and

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automotive production is reassured, we should
be able to resume steel production at Dearborn

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Works.
I'm Anna Wells, and this is Manufacturing now.