Pittsburgh (AP) -- AK Steel Holding Corp. says it is temporarily closing plants in Ohio and Kentucky because of economic turmoil that has sharply lowered demand for its steel products.
The West Chester, Ohio-based company says the facilities in Mansfield, Ohio, and Ashland, Kentucky, will remain idle until early to mid-January.
AK Steel halted steel production and shipping earlier this week at the Mansfield plant, which employs 365 people. A small number of workers will continue to maintain the plant in anticipation of a resumption of production.
Last week, AK Steel lowered its projections for steel shipments in the fourth quarter by about 14 percent, citing weaker-than-expected U.S. and global economic conditions.
