Tata Steel to shed over 1,000 jobs as cheap imports continue to undermine competitiveness

The proposed job losses would see 750 positions go at the company's Port Talbot-based Strip Products UK business, 200 jobs in support functions, and a further 100 jobs at steel mills in Trostre, Wales; Corby, Northants; and Hartlepool, County Durham.

On October 20, 2015 the company said is was closing plants in Lincolnshire and Scotland with the loss of 1,200 jobs because of cheap imports, a strong pound and high electricity costs.

Karl Koehler, chief executive of Tata Steel’s European operations, said: “These tough actions are critical in the face of extremely difficult market conditions which are expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

“We need the European Commission to accelerate its response to unfairly traded imports and increase the robustness of its actions. Not doing so threatens the future of the entire European steel industry. And while we welcome progress on UK energy costs, the government must take urgent action to increase the competitiveness of the UK for its vital steel sector. This includes lowering business rates and supporting energy efficiency and anti-dumping cases so we can compete fairly.