Our History
August 2025
SMU Steel Summit Conference reaches new heights
Another record-breaking year with over 1,500 executives in attendance
August 2024
SMU Steel Summit Conference: 1,500-attendee milestone achieved
Strong industry interest drives the conference forward
August 2023
SMU Steel Summit Conference strengthens further
Continued growth makes this a must-attend event with attendance surpassing 1,400
August 2022
SMU Steel Summit Conference attendees grow to 1,250
The conference cements its role as a key industry gathering
August 2021
SMU Steel Summit Conference back live
Buyers and executives reconnect after a challenging year
August 2020
SMU Steel Summit Conference goes virtual
The conference adapts to global events and thrives online with over 900 executives in attendance
August 2019
SMU Steel Summit Conference attendees surpass 1,000
Quickly becoming the premier steel conference in North America
June 2018
Steel Market Update is acquired by CRU
CRU is pleased to include Steel Market Update as part of our strong
portfolio of steel services and growing operations in North America
August 2017
SMU Steel Summit Conference breaks through 600 attendees
Closing in on becoming largest steel conference in North America
January 2017
SMU begins indexing plate
SMU adds plate index to our list of products covered
August 2016
Steel Summit Conference hits 434 attendees!
Now the second-largest steel conference in the United States
September 2015
Steel Summit hits 300 attendees!
We break away from Metalcon and expand to a two-day conference in Atlanta
December 2014
Our first custom training program
SMU conducts our first custom sales training program with Crompion
January 2014
Expanded training programs
Managing Price Risk and Steel 101 become popular steel training programs
September 2013
Looking Forward
New website installed along with a new look to the newsletter
June 2013
Building Service!
Developed new products including monthly and premium newsletters to compliment the executive newsletter
January 2013
Building Value!
Expanded analysis and forecasting services
October 2012
Three’s a Charm!
Third Steel Summit Conference held in Chicago in front of 200 executives
September 2012
Evolution!
Began construction of website 3.0 and redesign of newsletter
March 2012
Growing!
Purchased the assets of Steel Reality
October 2011
Steel Summit #2
2nd Steel Summit Conference held in Atlanta in front of 150 people
April 2011
Steel 101
Started Steel 101 educational workshops
December 2010
Scrap It!
Started ferrous scrap index: #1 HMS, shredded scrap and #1 busheling
October 2010
Viva Las Vegas!
First Steel Summit Conference held in Las Vegas in front of 100 people
December 2009
Survey Says!
Initiated steel market surveys
January 2009
Indexing
Began indexing hot-rolled, cold-rolled, galvanized and Galvalume steels
October 2008
Steel Buyers Sentiment Index
Started Steel Buyers Sentiment Index & Price Momentum Indicator
August 2008
Steel Market Update, Inc. begins
SMU was incorporated and began selling subscriptions to our newsletter
January 2004
Day 1… Salesman John Packard begins sending email updates to customers
Publication was meant to address fast-moving market and how customers could protect themselves