MT MT ArcelorMittal Loading... : Bullish and Bearish Analyst Opinions

This significant UK protectionist policy, which includes a 60% cut to import quotas and a 50% tariff on overages (per tweet 160837), will directly benefit domestic steel producers by limiting foreign competition and supporting higher local prices.

"Gas prices have increased by 50% over the last two or three weeks... It has an impact on the margins of the company so we have already very slim margins and that of course is a major setback." Steel production is highly energy-intensive. A massive spike in European natural gas prices due to Middle East supply disruptions will crush the already thin margins of European steelmakers (like ArcelorMittal), potentially forcing them to shut down capacity as production becomes economically unviable. SHORT. European governments step in with heavy energy subsidies for industrial players, or a rapid drop in natural gas prices.