PITTSBURGH, Pa. – U.S. Steel Corp. reported a first quarter loss of $219 million, compared with a first quarter loss last year of $86 million.

The company said the loss was due to a $399 million charge for the sale of its Serbian manufacturing plant.

U.S. Steel operates mills in Gary, East Chicago and Portage in Northwest Indiana.

The company sold its Serbian steelworks in January to the Serbian government for $1 in order to leave that business without laying off its 5,400 workers.