ArcelorMittal in Spanish furlough talks as steel demand falters

MADRID, Sept 16 (Reuters) - ArcelorMittal (MT.LU) has started negotiations with unions this week on a broad furlough scheme for the 8,300 workers at its Spanish mills in the face of weakening demand and soaring energy prices, a company spokesperson said on Friday.

The world's largest steelmaker expects to reach an agreement within a couple of weeks to allow it to idle any of its plants in Spain for any period of time until the end of 2023, the spokesperson added.