Long Products Market Outlook

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

- Alex Gordienko, Export Director, Celsa Group

Regional Markets of the Balkans and Southeast Europe in the Global Storm

• Steel industry of Eastern Europe and the Balkans and its place in the European market: current production and consumption levels, investment environment
• Outlook for steel consumption in the region: key consuming industries, challenges and growth prospects
• Potential of local steel production versus imports under the new quota regime
• Expected effects of CBAM and the melt-and-pour clause on the steel market balance in the region
• Potential of non-EU Balkan markets in terms of steel imports

- Branko Zecevic, President, Metalfer Group

HBI in the Raw Materials Landscape

• HBI as a new-generation raw material: benefits for steel producers in emissions reduction, operational efficiency, and production costs
• Major DRI/HBI projects worldwide and the key regions driving market growth
• The outlook for the merchant DRI/HBI market and the potential for increased global trade despite logistical challenges
• How new DRI/HBI projects differ from established production bases in India and Iran in terms of technology, scale, and other key features
• Key challenges to DRI/HBI expansion, including project costs, permitting, approvals, and energy supply
• DR-grade pellet supply: future growth, availability, and its capacity to support upcoming DRI/HBI projects
• DRI/HBI development in the GCC and Europe, with insights from the US expansion experience

- Vincent F. Chevrier, General Manager / Technical Sales and Marketing , Midrex Technologies, Inc.

CBAM: A Verifier's Perspective on Compliance and Implementation

• Selection process and timing for accredited CBAM verifiers, including potential bottlenecks in the availability of qualified verifiers across regions
• Prevention of fraud and manipulation of emissions data under CBAM, particularly in regions with less developed monitoring and reporting systems
• Safeguards and protections for companies purchasing CBAM-covered products in cases of inaccurate or non-compliant emissions data
• Expected timeline for suppliers to achieve full CBAM compliance and the likelihood of delays or uneven readiness across exporting countries

- Jerónimo Casas, Global Product Manager for Climate Change and Sustainability Solutions, SGS

Navigating the New Global Order: Strategic Foresight for Steel Markets

• The growing divide between Western and Eurasia/BRICS+ blocs and its impact on global steel trade.
• The shift from globalization to alignment, security, sanctions, and origin as key drivers of international trade.
• Emerging parallel trade and financial systems, and the role of Turkey, India, and the Gulf states as bridges between the two blocs.
• Geopolitical, logistical, financial, and insurance challenges reshaping steel trade routes, costs, and competitiveness.
• China’s shifting export flows, rising trade barriers, and the further fragmentation of global steel markets.

- Keynote Speaker: Velina Tchakarova, Geopolitical Strategist and Founder, FACE For A Conscious Experience

Dry Freight and Steel Trade Flows Amid Geopolitical Risks

• Recent trends across the dry freight market, with a particular focus on long-haul trades and the different dynamics observed in larger vessel segments compared with the Supramax and Handysize markets.
• Fleet supply developments, including the orderbook, expected vessel deliveries, and their implications for effective fleet availability.
• The current situation at the Strait of Hormuz and other major maritime chokepoints, focusing on vessel activity, trade flows, and their impact on shipping markets.
• Steel-related seaborne trade flows, highlighting the trends we have observed in cargo volumes and maritime transportation patterns. 

- Maria Bertzeletou, Senior Market Analyst, The Signal Group

14:30 - 16:00      IREPAS Producers Committee (by invitation only)
14:30 - 16:00      IREPAS Raw Material Suppliers Committee (by invitation only)
14:30 - 16:00      IREPAS Traders Committee (open to all attendees)

- IREPAS Producers Committee
- IREPAS Raw Material Suppliers Committee
- IREPAS Traders Committee