September 26th, Monday

09:00 – 09:25                        Welcome address by Chairman of IREPAS

09:25 – 10:25                         SESSION ONE
- Global economic developments and expectations

Lutz Karpowitz, Commerzbank AG / Director of FX Strategy

• Where is the European economy heading?
• China’s new normal
• Prospects and challenges for the U.S. economy
• GCC economies in a low oil price environment

10:25 – 10:55                              Networking Break

10:55 – 12:30                      SESSION TWO – Critical changes expected in global long steel markets
- Long product market outlook

Kim Marti, Celsa Group / International Sales Director

• Overview of global construction sector
• Steel and long products consumption
• Rebar markets
• International price situation

- Focus on China: What we can expect next?

Li Xinchuang, China Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute (MPI) / President – China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) / Vice Secretary General

• Outlook for Chinese steel market – raw materials and long products
• Overcapacity and environmental pollution
• Will Chinese steel exports still increase despite trade cases?
• New normal for Chinese steel

Keynote Speaker:
Becky E. Hites, Steel-Insights / President

Developed World Empty Nest Syndrome: The “Chicks” (Developing World) Have Flown The Coop & Now Are Flooding The Market With Steel

• Declining global steel demand and continued substantial global steel overcapacity resulting in more market protection trade actions.
• Chinese “campaign promises” (5-year plan) of increased environmental protection and lower steel production can deliver swift results once implemented.
• Consolidation through M&A likely as steel producers maneuver to adjust to the new slower growth market reality.
• Continued expected infrastructure investment in the Developing Worlds is a favorable driver for long product production.
• Energy volatility to continue as new players are re-introduced on the supply side and historic power balances are in flux, somewhat a negative for steel demand to that industry.
• Semis product substitution for liquid steel production (and traditional raw materials use) also continuing to disrupt and impact mill production schedules.
• 2017 stacking up as a year of continued re-alignment both on the supply side, but also the demand side, rather than a return to predictability and solid profitability.

12:30 – 14:30        Networking Lunch

14:30 – 17:00        IREPAS Committee Meetings

• 14:30 – 17:00 Producers Committee (by invitation only)
• 14:30 – 17:00 Raw Material Suppliers Committee (by invitation only)
• 14:30 – 17:00 Traders Committee (open to all attendees)

20:00 – 23:00 Gala Dinner

September 27th, Tuesday

09:30 – 11:00             SESSION THREE – Panel with Committee Chairmen

• Producers Committee
• Raw Material Suppliers Committee
• Traders Committee

April 11th, Monday
09:00 – 09:30                 Welcome address by Chairman of IREPAS

09:30 – 11:00                   SESSION ONE

- Global steel market outlook

Eric Louvert - BNP Paribas, Senior Advisor in Metals and Mining

• Cost competitiveness in a low raw materials and energy prices environment
• Chinese exports and trade barriers
• Outlook for demand

- Global economic developments and expectations

Lutz Karpowitz - Commerzbank AG , Director of FX Strategy

11:00 – 11:30 Networking Break

11:30 – 12:30                      SESSION TWO – Critical changes expected in global long steel markets

- Long products market outlook

Kim Marti - Celsa Group, International Sales Director

• Overview of global construction sector
• Steel and long products consumption
• Rebar markets
• International price situation

-  US market trends and trade cases

Bernd Neuenkirchen – C&F International, VP Wire Rods

-  Focus on China: What we can expect next?

Li Xinchuang, China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) /  Vice Secretary General and President of China Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute (MPI)

• Outlook for Chinese steel market – raw materials and long products
• Overcapacity and environmental pollution
• Will Chinese steel exports still increase despite trade cases?
• New normal for Chinese steel

12:30 – 14:30 Networking Lunch

14:30 – 17:00 IREPAS Committee Meetings

• 14:30 – 17:00 IREPAS Producers Committee (by invitation only)
• 14:30 – 17:00 IREPAS Raw Material Suppliers Committee (by invitation only)
• 14:30 – 17:00 IREPAS Traders Committee (open to all attendees)

20:00 – 23:00 Gala Dinner (at Zambeze Restaurant)

April 12th, Tuesday
09:30 – 11:00                   SESSION THREE – Panel with Committee Chairmen

• IREPAS Producers Committee
• IREPAS Raw Material Suppliers Committee
• IREPAS Traders Committee

September 28th, Sunday

14:00 – 19:00 Registration desk opens at the lobby
19:00 – 23:00 Welcome Cocktail at Hilton Berlin Hotel
September 29th, Monday 

08:30 – 09:00 Registration desk opens at the conference area
09:00 – 10:00 Welcome address by Chairman of IREPAS – Kim Marti

SESSION ONE – Global Economic Outlook
Keynote Speaker: Lutz Karpowitz, Commerzbank AG

10:00 – 11:00  Guest Speaker: Peter Draper (former director of Man.Utd. FC)

11:00 – 11:30 Networking Break

11:30 – 12:30 SESSION TWO – Global Trends, Diminishing Exports and Trade Cases

• EU economy and long product market outlook / Speaker : Franc Cardona, Celsa Group
• US market trends and trade cases / Speaker: Bernd Neuenkirchen, C&F International

• Steel trends and expectations: MENA and GCC / Speaker: Abdulaziz Abdul Razaq Hashim , Qatar Steel

12:30 – 14:00 Lunch Break

14:00 – 17:00 IREPAS Committee Meetings

• 14:00–15:45 Wire Rod & Rebar Suppliers Committee (by invitation only)
• 14:00–15:45 Billet Suppliers Committee (by invitation only)
• 16:00–17:00 Producers Committee (by invitation only)
• 14:30–17:00 Raw Material Suppliers Committee (by invitation only)
• 14:30–17:00 Traders Committee (open to all attendees)

20:00 – 23:00 Gala Dinner

September 30th, Tuesday 

09:30 – 11:00 SESSION THREE – Panel with Committee Chairmen

Committees:
- Wire Rod & Rebar Suppliers Committee
- Billet Suppliers Committee
- Producers Committee
- Raw Material Suppliers Committee
- Traders Committee