On the last day of the conference, producers of long steel products and steel billet, as well as traders and raw material suppliers, shared the conclusions reached at their special committee meetings regarding the current situation in the markets with the general participants at the event.

Raw Material Suppliers: Scrap collectors may consolidate for sustainable future         

The chairman of the IREPAS raw material suppliers committee Jens Björkman indicated that scrap supply has found other places to go such as the Arabian Gulf, the Indian peninsula, as well as Turkey since the last IREPAS meeting in autumn 2014.

Mr. Björkman pointed out that the whole supply chain is suffering from overcapacity – from the mills and mines to scrap collectors. He said that some companies have scrap sites that are not profitable and will have to shut down. For a sustainable future, scrap collectors might have to consolidate, he said.

Björkman also pointed out that the domestic supply and demand situation in the US during winter has been tough, with harsh winter conditions affecting scrap collection. Besides, the decline in scrap prices also contributed to the 15 percent reduction in scrap collection. He added that demand in the US has also been affected by lower demand in the gas and oil sectors.

Regarding the EU, the raw material suppliers committee chairman said that demand was subdued but relatively healthy in the last few months, with the weaker euro serving to protect the industry somewhat. Commenting on European Commission restrictions on scrap exports, he said that “it never really gets farther than a discussion point”, adding that there are already obstacles in EU legislation which restrict exports. However, he reiterated that he does not see restrictions going further than that.

Replying to a question on whether major iron ore producers are becoming a monopoly, Mr. Björkman said that these miners want to retain their margins by increasing output, adding that the industry will continue to see high supply for a while before more and more smaller miners start shutting down production.

Traders: Weak euro is a positive signal for trade              

Bernd Neuenkirchen, the chairman of the IREPAS traders committee, said that there were ups and downs in the market which the committee discussed, mentioning North America as a bright spot, in comparison to the EU and other markets. While competition has increased, demand for rebar has not been too bad despite harsh winter conditions, according to the traders committee. Mr. Neuenkirchen also pointed out that the bad weather conditions in the northeastern US did not affect the steel industry as bad as it did last year when demand and GDP experienced a fall due to harsh winter conditions.

The traders committee chairman indicated that the weak euro has certainly changed the picture in the market, and this is a positive thing for traders, meaning there will be a wider range of supply sources, with European mills suddenly coming into picture. Regarding China, Neuenkirchen said that trade actions against China have changed the picture a little bit in the US and Canada, and as a result either China is out of these markets or its volumes are lower. In response to a question on whether US producers will continue to pursue trade action against Turkish rebar exports, he said he believes the US producers will ask for a review.

Producers need to find new opportunities while preserving margins   

Kim Marti, the chairman of both IREPAS and of the IREPAS steel producers committee, stressed that there are three major points for steel producers: the markets are growing, Chinese exports are expected to continue putting pressure on the markets, while big producers are adjusting their production according to market conditions.

Mr. Marti said producers have to find new opportunities, while in the meantime they also have to preserve margins by adjusting production. He said that, regarding the EU, its economy is expected to grow by 1.5 percent and customers are financially healthy, thereby increasing the possibilities for business. The IREPAS chairman indicated that Turkey is involved in intense competition with China, while it is challenged by low demand in neighboring countries, such as Iraq and Syria, due to political unrest. Turkish exporters have been finding alternative markets in Africa and South America.

Looking at South America, Brazil is suffering a little bit because of political uncertainty, while other countries in the region are enjoying healthy conditions. Mr. Marti also said that seven percent GDP growth is expected in the Philippines, while construction in the country is growing as well. He added that the country needs 150,000 mt of billet per month, and with new production capacities coming on line the country will be self-sufficient.

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

19:00 – 23:00 Welcome Cocktail at Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona
March 31st, Monday 
09:00 – 09:30 Registration desk opens at the conference area

09:30 – 10:45

• Welcome address by Chairman of IREPAS – Kim Marti
• SESSION ONE – The Unbalanced Post Recession
  Keynote Speaker:
  Xavier Sala-i-Martin, J. and M. Grossman Professor of Economics at Columbia University in New York / Chief Economic Advisor of the Center for Global Competitiveness and Performance at the World Economic Forum in Davos

10:45 – 11:15 Networking Break

11:15 – 12:30

SESSION TWO – Global Trends, Key Points and Critical Issues

• Long steel products market / Franc Cardona, Grupo Celsa
• US market coverage with focus on recent trade cases / Bernd Neuenkirchen, C&F International
• Steel trends and expectations: MENA and GCC / Bhaskar Dutta, Al Jazeera Steel Products
• Overview of Turkey’s steel exports and main issues faced / Namik Ekinci, Turkish Steel Exporters’ Association

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)

 18:00 – 18:30 Busses leave for Gala Dinner Venue – Camp Nou

19:00 – 20:00 Camp Nou Corporate Tour
20:00 – 20:30 Presentation by Jordi Moix, FC Barcelona Board Member
20:30 – 22:00 Gala Dinner
22:00 Departure

April 1st, 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

*All presentations will be in English