xecon.dev / 231 · Liberia / Xcelerators / Michiel Van Der Merwe

Xcelerator · Person

Michiel Van Der Merwe

ArcelorMittal Liberia

Iron Ore Mining, Port Infrastructure

Signal

Region
Liberia
Industry
Iron Ore Mining, Port Infrastructure
Source file
profiles/liberia_business_people.md:323
Status
published

Economic impact

Serves as Chief Executive Officer of ArcelorMittal Liberia, the country's largest single private employer and export earner. The company exports approximately 5 million metric tonnes of iron ore per year through the port of Buchanan; iron ore accounted for roughly 70 percent of Liberia's total merchandise export value in 2023, per Liberia Revenue Authority and National Port Authority data. ArcelorMittal is implementing a Phase 2 expansion programme, with a total capital commitment of approximately US$1.4 billion, intended to raise annual export capacity to 15 million metric tonnes and extend the Yekepa-to-Buchanan rail corridor. The company directly employs approximately 4,500 Liberian workers and contracts hundreds of local suppliers.

Sources

  1. Liberia
  2. Daily Observer
  3. Micat
Last updated: 5/27/2026 by xecon desk corrections@xecon.dev