Union Pacific to serve future Hyundai steel plant in Louisiana

Hyundai Steel Co. (HSC) is investing $5.8 billion in a new steel manufacturing facility in Louisiana to boost automobile production in the United States.

The facility will be located in the existing RiverPlex MegaPark in Donaldsonville, which offers access to a Union Pacific Railroad mainline, Louisiana government officials said Monday in a press release.

The RiverPlex MegaPark sits on 17,000 acres within 10 miles of Mississippi River frontage between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. To attract HSC to the park, the state offered an incentives package. The state will continue to invest in infrastructure updates at the MegaPark for both the new Hyundai plant and other future developments. 

“The effort to attract and secure Hyundai Motor Group in Louisiana is the most recent example of how our whole-of-Louisiana approach is making our state more competitive by fostering an economic ecosystem that provides an ease of doing business,” said Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois.

HSC will partner with the Port of South Louisiana to build a deep water dock to accommodate steel and materials shipments, Louisiana government officials said. The facility is expected to import 3.6 million tons of iron ore annually. Completed coils will be shipped out via rail and truck to customers, namely Hyundai vehicle manufacturing plants throughout the United States. The company expects to produce 2.7 million metric tons of steel annually.

Hyundai anticipates construction to begin in third-quarter 2026, Louisiana officials said.