Sweden’s mining company LKAB will temporarily shut down its KK3 pellet plant in Kiruna from mid-April through November 2026, due to changing rock mechanical conditions requiring a revised mining sequence. The suspension will reduce iron ore deliveries by around two million tons this year.

Current delivery disruptions in the Middle East influenced the selection of the KK3 facility, as this plant processes the majority of products destined for regional customers.

The company plans to reassign affected staff to preventive maintenance and other internal roles rather than implementing layoffs. Production volumes should return to previous levels by 2027, but the company is currently evaluating alternative mining areas to mitigate the short-term impact on supply capacity.