The 3rd international conference "World Steel Semis Market 2010" was held on October 18-19 in Istanbul, Turkey, "Ceylan Intercontinental Hotel". The unique event was devoted to discussion of steel semis segment in overview of global finished products market.
Key topics of "World Steel Semis Market 2010" included:
- What to expect from steel market in the nearest future: full recovery or another wave of recession? Steel industry’s main results of 2010 and prospects.
- Development of long products market. New horizons for main billet consumers.
- Major billet suppliers: strategies and tactics.
- Flats market – current state and prospects of demand and price trends.
- World slab market: reality and future. Slab producers’ strategies.
These questions were covered by 22 presentations made by topnotch speakers from world largest companies such as EZZ Steel, Kaptan, Evraz, ISSB, Metinvest, Kayseri Service Center, Arab Iron & Steel Union, Al-Ittefaq Steel Product Company, Coutinho & Ferrostaal, Severstal Export, Colakoglu, Mobarakeh Steel, Metal Expert, World Steel Dynamics, Siderweb, Marvel International, Navigation Maritime Bulgare etc.
Despite the fact that recent steel events cannot be a platform for loud outlooks of price trend any more, most of delegates were united in the opinion of absence of strong and clear preconditions for price climbing. In spite of stable demand for semis products, buyers are afraid of active purchasing. However Iranian billet demand keeps Russian and Turkish billet markets alive.As for producers, production cost constituent is still a determinative factor of price setting.
Regarding finished products market, flats segment trade is recovering much better while long products suppliers still suffer. Talking about Turkish market, the sharp decreasing of scrap prices is not expected because of currency fluctuations (euro/dollar) and supply shortage, also caused by up-coming winter season. This also can be a constraint to keep longs quotations from significant dropping. As for mini-mills, they are more focusing on steel billet export now due to weak demand for long products in global market, that increased Turkish semis share in global market this year. Meanwhile they can have benefits from stable demand from local buyers. And it's worthy of mentioning that in flat products segment, after launching new mills, Turkey becomes more self-sufficient and increase its export volumes.
Summarizing, it's obvious that market players are much more cautious now, and facing the challenges of steel business, they survive: less profit but no losses.
Round-table discussion took place at the second day of the conference and became a closing and key-point of event. It was devoted to the main trends affecting steel semis and finished products market in 2010-2011, and such of them as demand and supply factors, raw materials’ prices, new projects and expansion plans as well as sharing different opinions of price trends.
Besides suggesting market data, the conference offered vast opportunities for networking and sharing opinions among major suppliers, semis consumers, trading companies as well as shipping companies, representatives of specialized media and consultancy companies. About 190 companies from 33 countries of the world, including Mechel Trading, Metalloinvest, Sabic, LISCO, Izmir Demir Celik, Ezz Steel, POSCO, Daewoo, Khouzestan Steel, OMK, Qatar Steel Company, United Steel Industrial Company, Steelasia Manufacturing, Ehyazob Esfahan, Ferrogillan, Liberty Commodities, Kibar Trading, Sepahan Industrial Group, Salzgitter, NLMK, Nippan Steel, LITAT, Kocaer etc participated in this event.
TO BUY DOCUMENTATION
If you want to buy conference documentation (presentations, audio, list of participants with contacts, program, conference book) please contact Svetlana Rusanova
+38 (0562) 31-39-19, ext. 225
e-mail: S.Rusanova@b-forum.ru
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