U. S. Steel announced the launch and operational readiness of its direct reduced (DR)-grade pellet production facility at its Minnesota Ore Operations-Keetac Plant. Having already confirmed the first shipment of DR-grade pellets, the Keetac facility is on track to deliver approximately four million tons of pellets annually. The $150 million investment marks a step forward in U. S. Steel's metallics strategy by supplying the increasingly tight DR-grade pellet market with low-cost iron ore and building on the company's ability to meet customer needs.

The new production facility will maintain optionality, able to produce either DR-grade iron ore pellets or blast furnace iron ore pellets, allowing the Company to adjust to changing market conditions. Construction on the DR-grade pellet facility began in August of 2022 and was completed in December of 2023. U. S. Steel?s Minnesota Ore Operations directly employs nearly 2,000 workers.