About the Conference
Global steel demand fell for a consecutive year in 2023 and is projected to see only a small rebound in 2024 as economies continue to grapple with the Ukraine war impact, high inflation, high costs and monetary tightening. The geopolitical scenario has deteriorated even further since the outbreak of war in Gaza and the investment climate remains shaky amid fears of conflict escalation in the Middle East.
China’s post-Covid demand rebound was a damp squib last year, and post-Lunar New Year demand failed to materialise this year, with market players still awaiting the impact of Chinese government support measures. Chinese steel exports consequently continue to climb in 2024 after seeing a seven-year high in 2023. Chinese product is displacing HRC in other Asian markets. This has resulted in the EU’s “other country” quota for HRC being exhausted within days for multiple quarters. Last year, Japan, Taiwan and, especially, Vietnam increased their HRC shipments to the bloc.
India is adding HRC capacity at pace, in anticipation of booming domestic demand after the stifling general election impact subsides. It, too, has seen sizeable imports from China and is eyeing the higher-paying EU market for exports of its HRC, frequently exhausting its quota.
The first quarter of the year saw iron ore and HRC prices drop across the globe, with much talk of Chinese production cuts but thus far no action. EU mills are meanwhile being forced to cut production amid higher costs and imports taking a growing market share.
The major flat steel-consuming automotive sector is expected to see weak growth at best in 2024 after being the only bright spot in 2023.
Kallanish Flat Steel 2024 will debate the most important trends impacting the global flat steel market in order to understand what the industry has in store.
Global Overview: Regional coil markets supply, demand and price trends
Raw materials: Pricing developments and impact on flat steel market
End-user demand: Impact of rising costs, inflation, and supply chain risks
Overcapacity: Analysis of the longer-term global market trends
Green transition: Challenges of sustainable steel industry decarbonisation
Energy costs: Impact of higher energy costs on production
China: will a demand rebound materialise? Will it cut production?
EU production: will offline capacity be recommissioned amid high costs?
European policy: How will CBAM account for EU mills’ export competitiveness?
US: When will much-anticipated interest rate cuts materialise and boost sentiment?
𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐭: Yashika Agrawal | [email protected] | +91 9993903483
