2021 Steel Market Update Events You Won't Want to Miss

Dates: Jan. 26-27 (half day workshop for each day)

Instructor: Spencer Johnson, StoneX, plus participation from CME Group and CRU.

The flat rolled steel market is a unique and challenging environment to manage risk, but this introductory course will explain the basics of how financial products work for the steel industry through basic real-world scenarios. Building up from the basics of why firms use these products and what advantages they offer, participants will take away a concrete understanding of hedging basics, terminology, and the knowledge of market structure they will need to build a risk management strategy for their own firm.

Participants will understand:

• What is “hedging,” and why do so many companies do it 
• What makes hedging in steel different than other commodities
• The structure of the market and the mechanics of how trades are executed
• The costs and risk involved 

To learn more and register for this workshop, please click here.

Steel Hedging 201: Advanced Strategies & Execution

Dates: Feb. 23-24 (half-day workshop each day)

Instructor: Spencer Johnson, StoneX, plus participation from CME Group, CRU and an active OEM/Service Center trading in the futures markets

As an instructor in hedging and risk management for the steel industry for over a decade, I have seen all shapes and sizes of hedge strategies and dilemmas. This more advanced workshop is designed to guide you through more detailed examples of these strategies and dilemmas so you can move beyond the knowledge of what you should be doing and build to actually executing on that knowledge.

Participants will understand:

• How to develop a strategy based on your risk profile 
• How to use futures and options to advance your marketing efforts without taking on more risk
• Real world examples of actual hedging scenarios
• How to make more effective linkage between financial and physical steel products

To learn more and register for this workshop please click here.

Steel 101: Introduction to Steel Making & Market Fundamentals

Dates: Feb. 9-10 (two full days)

Instructors: John Packard, Maro Briccetti, Roger Walburn, Charles McDaniels

Steel Market Update’s Steel 101 Workshop is the premier industry training for understanding steel making and market fundamentals. Workshop instructors have a combined 150+ years’ experience in the steel industry. 

Our team of instructors will present and describe the structure of the steel industry and the steel making process, starting with raw materials, and going all the way through the various rolling mills and coating processes. The workshop will focus on all aspects of flat and long product production, quality and market drivers. Participants will have a virtual guided tour of a steel mill that specializes in flat rolled products, and see all stages of production.

You will have the opportunity to ask questions in live Q&A’s after each main topic, plus we’ll have a Networking Happy Hour on Day One so you can meet and mingle with the instructors and other workshop attendees

The advantages of the virtual workshop are many:

You will be able to watch segments both live and on-demand if you miss something, or want to re-watch a particular topic
Take advantage of the live networking happy hour on Day 1 for the chance to mingle with your fellow attendees and the instructors
Get involved in interactive Q&A discussions with our experienced trainers and extended time to message them after the live programming with more specific questions
Access and download all the resources at your convenience; you will also receive a comprehensive workbook as well as access to related resources on the SMU website

This workshop is the perfect training for anyone involved in the steel industry, whether you are just starting out or simply want to learn more about how steel is produced and sold.

You can learn more about our Steel 101 workshops and register by clicking here.

Other Steel Training Workshops in Development:

• Galvanized Steel Hedging – this will be an introducton to the concepts of hedging galvanized steel using the HDG futures on the CME and other options. First workshop is scheduled for March 2021.
• Steel 201: An Advanced Look at Steel Making & Market Fundamentals – under development with the first workshop scheduled for late February 2021.

32nd Tampa Steel Conference

Date: Feb. 2 (virtual)

We have a full-day of presentations and networking planned for the 2021 Tampa Steel Conference as we kick off our joint venture relationship with the Port of Tampa, which has been conducting this great conference for the past 31 years. Due to the pandemic, the 2021 event will be virtual and will consist of a one-day conference with an exceptional agenda and networking opportunities.

Speakers: Leon Topalian, President & CEO, Nucor; Dr. Walter Kemmsies, Chief Economist and Managing Partner, Kemmsies Group; Phil Bell, President, Steel Manufacturers Association; Trade Attorney Lewis E. Leibowitz; Chris Shipp, Vice President Supply Chain, Priefert Manufacturing; Timna Tanners, Metals & Mining Analyst, Bank of America; Josh Spoores, Principal Analyst, CRU; Paul Anderson, President, Port Tampa Bay; Kevin Dempsey, President & CEO, American Iron and Steel Institute; Derek Langston, Head of Research, SSY Consultancy & Research Ltd.; Rebecca Brewster, President & COO, American Transportation Research Institute; and John Packard, President & CEO, Steel Market Update

To learn more about the Tampa Steel Conference and to register, please click here.

2021 SMU Steel Summit Conference

Dates: Aug. 23-25

Location: Georgia International Convention Center, Atlanta, Georgia

We are hopeful with the release of multiple vaccines to protect against the coronavirus that our 2021 SMU Steel Summit Conference will once again be held in person at the GICC located next to the Atlanta International Airport.

We have already started booking speakers. Some top names are: Lourenco Gonclaves, Chairman, President & CEO, Cleveland-Cliffs; Dr. Alan Beaulieu, ITR Economics; and Michael Smerconish, well known radio and television political analyst.

We have not yet blocked hotel rooms, but we have heard the rates being quoted right now are quite competitive and you may want to book now rather than waiting for our room block.

We do not yet have our registration page up for this event, but hope to have it available before the end of the year.

For more information, contact: conferences@crugroup.com or Events@SteelMarketUpdate.com