Hyundai Steel has officially launched a $5.8 billion steel mill project in Louisiana, marking a major step in Hyundai Motor Group’s push to expand U.S. manufacturing. The new facility is expected to begin commercial production in 2029 and will produce up to 2.7 million metric tons of steel each year.
The ceremonial launch took place at RiverPlex MegaPark in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, under the slogan “Building the Future of Steel, Together with Louisiana.” The plant will be operated by HYUNDAI-POSCO Louisiana Steel LLC (HPLS), a joint venture between Hyundai Steel, POSCO, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation.
The project will become Hyundai Steel’s first North American steel production base. The company plans to produce hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel sheets, mainly for automotive use.
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The Louisiana facility is expected to create around 5,400 jobs, including 1,300 direct positions. It is designed to support local manufacturing while strengthening the steel supply chain for automotive production in the U.S.
The project is also part of Hyundai Motor Group’s $26 billion U.S. investment commitment through 2028. The wider plan covers automotive manufacturing, steel production, robotics and other industrial activities.
The new facility will use Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) technology. EAFs melt steel using electricity and can support lower-emission steel production when powered by cleaner energy sources.
Hyundai Steel also plans to use a Direct Reduction Process, which is designed to produce iron from iron ore without using a traditional blast furnace. The combination is intended to help the company make steel with lower carbon emissions.
A major purpose of the facility is to supply steel for vehicles made by Hyundai Motor Company and Kia. Local production could help the companies build a more connected U.S. supply chain and reduce dependence on imported automotive steel.
According to Hyundai Steel, the plant will focus on producing high-quality steel sheets suitable for modern vehicles, while supporting the wider U.S. automotive manufacturing network.
Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung said the company wants to contribute to the future of “Made in America.” The Louisiana project is positioned as an important part of the group’s broader manufacturing expansion in the country.
Hyundai Motor Group said it has invested more than $20.5 billion in the U.S. since entering the market in 1986. The new steel plant adds another major part to that industrial footprint.
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Commercial production is planned for 2029, so the facility still has several years of construction and development ahead. The main challenge will be completing the large-scale project on schedule while bringing its new steelmaking technologies into commercial operation.
If completed as planned, the Louisiana mill could give Hyundai Motor Group a more integrated U.S. manufacturing chain, connecting steel production directly with vehicle manufacturing.
