Arcelor and Mitsui to Set up Joint Service Centre in South Africa

LUXEMBOURG--April 25, 2006--Arcelor SSC (ISIN:LU0140205948) (Pink Sheets:ARLOF)(BOURSE:LOR)(EURONEXT:LOR) and Mitsui & Co UK signed today an agreement for the joint creation of a Steel Service Center in South Africa, dedicated mainly to the automotive industry.

The new company called AMSA Steel Service Centre Pty Ltd, will be owned 65% by Arcelor and 35% by Mitsui.

The steel service center will be located in the Durban area and is to start operations in the second quarter of 2007. It is to process 120,000 tons of slit products, rectangular and shaped blanks per year. AMSA will provide storage and services such as just in time delivery to its automotive customers.

At the signing ceremony in Luxembourg on April 25th, Arcelor Senior Executive Vice President Gonzalo Urquijo said: "As the number one steel partner of the global automotive industry we accompany our customers in their global development, providing them with the highest level of performance everywhere around the world. Through this cooperation with Mitsui, our customers will benefit of the combined experiences and best practices of Arcelor and Mitsui in the processing and distribution of steel".

Ken Abe, Senior Executive Vice President of Mitsui and Managing Director of Mitsui & Co. Europe Plc said "We already have a strong presence in South Africa, where the automotive sector is set for rapid growth, and we are very happy to establish this partnership for our automotive customers with Arcelor in this country."

About Arcelor

Arcelor is the number one steel company in the world with a turnover of 32.6 billion euros in 2005. The company is the world leader for the automotive sector and holds leadership positions in its main markets: construction, household appliances and packaging as well as general industry. The company - number one steel producer in Europe and Latin America - ambitions to further expand internationally in order to capture the growth potential of developing economies and offer technologically advanced steel solutions to its global customers. In 2006, Arcelor employs 110,000 associates in over 60 countries. The company places its commitment to sustainable development at the heart of its strategy and ambitions to be a benchmark for economic performance, labour relations and social responsibility.

For more information, please see: http://www.arcelor.com

About Mitsui

Mitsui & Co., Ltd., together with its subsidiaries and associated companies, is one of Japan's largest general trading companies, and trades in a diverse range of goods with business partners in every region of the world, and also engages in major international infrastructure and other projects. Mitsui undertakes sales and marketing, import and export, and international trading and manufacturing in business segments including metal products & minerals, machinery, electronics & information, chemicals, energy, and consumer products & services. Mitsui provides comprehensive services in areas such as retail, logistics and transportation, and finance, and is actively involved in natural resource development. Mitsui's strategic business investments include IT and emerging technologies, and undertakes a broad range of other business initiatives.

For more information, please see: http://www.mitsui.co.jp/tkabz/english/index.html