U. S. Steel Announces First-of-its-kind in the United States DRI Facility at Big River Steel Works

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--United States Steel Corporation (“U. S. Steel”) today announced a $1.9 billion investment to build a new direct reduced iron (DRI) facility at Big River Steel Works in Osceola, Arkansas — the first of its kind in the United States.

The investment strengthens U. S. Steel's next-generation steelmaking capabilities and reinforces its position as a leader in modern, efficient steelmaking. The new facility will leverage U. S. Steel's 2022 investment into direct reduced-grade pellet capabilities at its Minnesota Ore Operations Keetac plant, creating a direct link between our mining operations, EAF feedstock creation, and steel production at Big River Steel Works.

Critically, by sitting DRI production at Big River Steel Works, where the more than $3 billion Big River 2 expansion is now in full production and there are four electric arc furnaces (EAF), this investment will eliminate the need to ship DRI to the facility and builds in a competitive sourcing advantage for Big River’s feedstock.

“From iron ore in Minnesota to steel production in Arkansas, this $1.9 billion investment strengthens our ability to create steel that is truly mined, melted, made in America, from start to finish. By vertically integrating DRI production directly at Big River Steel Works, we enhance efficiency, secure our competitive advantage, and position U. S. Steel for long term success. Our partnership with Nippon Steel helped accelerate this investment years sooner than would have otherwise been possible,” said U. S. Steel President and Chief Executive Officer David B. Burritt.

Together, these investments advance vertical integration across U. S. Steel's operations under a single, integrated American supply chain, improving efficiency, quality, and supply chain control while enhancing the company's ability to deliver consistent, high-quality steel with greater reliability for its customers.

This project is expected to support approximately 200 full-time Big River Steel Works employees and 35 full-time embedded contractor roles, while creating an estimated 2,000 construction jobs at peak—further strengthening our workforce and economic impact in the region.

About U. S. Steel

Founded in 1901, U. S. Steel delivers profitable and sustainable steel solutions. Propelled by its talented employees and an unwavering focus on safety, U. S. Steel serves the automotive, construction, appliance, energy, containers, and packaging industries with high value-added steel products. Steel production begins with our competitively advantaged iron ore production capabilities which fuel our integrated steelmaking facilities and investments in electric arc furnaces. To help our customers create the best products with the fewest emissions, we are committed to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. U. S. Steel is at the forefront of creating steels that are stronger, lighter, and better for the environment. This includes our proprietary XG3^® advanced high-strength steel, verdeX^® steel produced with 70-80% lower CO² emissions with a recycled content of up to 90%, and ultra-thin lightweight InduX™ steel for electric vehicles, generators, and transformers. U. S. Steel maintains operations across the United States and in Central Europe and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For more information, please visit www.ussteel.com and follow U. S. Steel on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and X.