Steel Products
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/media/k2/items/src/972d824de5197448dc71b7e75ae3dee1.jpg)
SMU Events Update for 2020
Written by John Packard
December 18, 2019
I have been extremely busy working on the keynote speakers for the 2020 SMU Steel Summit Conference. Based on the moves I am making right now, I believe we will have the strongest program ever – especially on the final day of the conference. I don’t want to totally tip my hand quite yet as all of the negotiations are not yet complete, but I highly recommend you arrive early and plan on staying to the end of the conference (make your return flights for 3 p.m. ET or later on Wednesday, Aug. 26).
The steel industry is undergoing a transformation and that will be the theme of the 2020 conference. We will return to a strong forecasting conference with special attention placed on how buyers and sellers of steel deal with an industry that is reinventing itself before our eyes. This will include speaking directly to the steel mill CEOs, taking a look at the technology, costs and carbon footprint of the industry, industry inputs, economic forecasts, manufacturing panel, main market segments panel and an eye on the politics of the day and what you need to do no matter what happens in November 2020.
Registration for the 2020 SMU Steel Summit Conference is now open. If you were an attendee from the 2019 conference, you should have already received a link for hotel registrations. We have added a brand-new hotel, which is under construction right now but should be ready well before our conference begins. The hotel is an AC Hotel, which is part of the Marriott group of hotels. This brings the number of hotels up to five for 2020: The Gateway Hotels – Atlanta Marriott Gateway, Renaissance Gateway, SpringHill Suites Gateway, AC Hotel Gateway – and then the Atlanta Airport Marriott Hotel located about one mile from the convention center. When you register you will receive links for hotel registration in your confirmation email.
We have received more registrations for the first SMU Steel 101 workshop of the New Year, which will be held in Ontario, Calif. We will be cutting off registrations for that workshop at the end of the business day tomorrow (Friday, Dec. 20). From that point it will be on an inquire-only basis.
The next Steel 101 workshop in 2020 will be held in Merrillville, Ind. (outside of Chicago) and will include a tour of the NLMK Portage, Ind., EAF mill. We hope to have registration for that workshop up on our website soon. If you have any questions about this workshop, please contact Events@SteelMarketUpdate.com
As always, your business is truly appreciated by all of us here at Steel Market Update.
John Packard, President & CEO
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/john-packard.png)
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Products
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/CMC-New-Logo.png)
CMC to open rebar fabrication facility in Ohio
Longs producer and metal recycler CMC plans to open a new rebar fabrication plant in Akron, Ohio.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/steel_trade.png)
US and Mexico take action to curb ‘unfair’ trade
The US and Mexico announced measures on Wednesday to prevent tariff evasion and protect North America’s steel and aluminum industries.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/gears.png)
Final thoughts
First off, we hope everyone had a safe and happy July 4th holiday, with fireworks seen and BBQs attended. Many parts of the country are quite toasty at the moment, signaling that, yes, summer has indeed arrived. And looking at our most recent survey results, the summer doldrums have arrived as well.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Rig_count_pic_3-scaled.jpg)
Active rig counts recover in US, slip in Canada
US drill rig activity moved back up last week after drifting lower for four straight weeks. Meanwhile, Canadian counts slipped for the first time after a seven-week rally, according to the latest data from Baker Hughes.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/AISI.png)
AISI: US steel shipments up in May from April, off from 2023
Domestic steel shipments increased in May month over month but have fallen on-year.