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Raw Materials Consumption The ferro-alloys market has always been unpredictable but all factors are pointing toward a buoyant 2007. This year's conference will examine the market dynamics in the industry. With the ever increasing growth in consumption of raw materials, where are the new projects and what strategies are in place to fulfil growing demand?
Continued rapid economic development within developing countries coupled with urbanisation and industrialisation have all contributed to a powerful and fast developing steel industry. Global steel demand has shown no sign of slowing down with predictions of a 5.9% growth prediction in 2007. These means an increase of 65 million tons compared to 2006. Particularly strong trends in demand are predicted in the developing regions of Africa, Asia and South America.
Steel Production2007 has seen steel production increase by 10.5% on the same period in 2006. China has continued to lead the way, excluding China, global crude steel production only rose by 4.5%. China alone accounted for 34% of growth in 2006. In Europe crude steel production rose by 6.7% compared to the same period last year.
Stainless steel production is also predicted to have a strong rate of growth in 2007, last year saw China increase stainless steel output by 68%. Asian production led the way with an increase of 15.1 million tonnes compared to 10 million tonnes in Europe and Africa.
Nickel has hit record prices with speculation that supply may not meet the ever increasing demand. This demand outstripping supply situation has increased interest in substitution possibilities with molybdenum being increasingly focused on. Insatiable demand for ferro-chrome from the rapidly growing stainless steel industry is stretching supply from the South African ferro-chrome miners and India's limit on chrome ore exports have further increased prices. A favourable cost structure and the availability of raw materials is a key concern for everybody involved in the steel and ferro-alloys industry. With fluctuating power costs and the rising cost of freight the industry how are companies streamlining and increasing efficiency?
KEY REASONS TO ATTEND:
• Analyse the changing market conditions in the global ferro-alloys industry and the impact on your business
• Listen to expert forecasts for raw material consumption in stainless and carbon steel markets
• Understand the key issues shaping the industry
• Understand the effects of technological changes
• Take the opportunity to network with leading executives and generate new business contacts
Speaker List
Martin Abbott, CEO, London Metal Exchange, UK
Leon Westgate, Analyst, Standard Bank, UK
Pekka E Purra, Senior Advisor Metals, Outokumpu Oyj, Finland
Amy Bennett, Senior Steel Editor, Metal Bulletin Research, USA
Stephen Turner, CEO, International Ferro Metals Limited, Australia
Vivek Agarwal, Director, Visa Steel, India
George Song, President, Shanxiang Minmetals, USA
Arnoud Willems, Partner, Sidley Austin LLP, Belgium
Andrey Pupchenko, Head of Raw Materials Research, Metal Expert Research Group, Ukraine
Dr K S Harlow, The Vanadium Consortium, Belgium
Nadia Vinck, Scientific Expert, Euro Alliages, Belgium
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