The Metal-Expo '2024' exhibition has identified the key strategic direction for future growth
The 30th anniversary of the International Industrial Exhibition Metal-Expo'2024 was held from 29 October to 1 November at the Expocentre Exhibition Centre. This year's event brought together 875 leading metallurgical companies, including 467 from Russia, 368 from China, and 38 from 14 other countries. The exhibition area grew by 25 per cent to 45,000m2. More than 5,000 managers and specialists worked at the stands, and more than 30,000 consumers of metal products from the construction industry, machine building, fuel and energy complex, transport, logistics and metal trading companies visited the exhibition.
This level of interest is testament to the authority and significance of the forum as a key event in the world of metallurgy. The participating companies showcased the latest equipment, technologies and components, as well as a comprehensive range of modern steel products. Leading industry figures presented new production facilities and product innovations, discussed trends, innovative technologies, engineering and digital services for customers, strategic partnerships and the launch of joint projects, as well as sharing their opinions on the results and prospects of market development. The agenda also encompassed non-production areas, including the large-scale improvement of operational regions and the creation of comfortable living conditions for the well-being of employees. This approach is being adopted by companies in Vyksa (Nizhny Novgorod Region), Magnitogorsk (Chelyabinsk Region), Cherepovets (Vologda Region), Krasnoyarsk, and a number of other cities.
In addition to the key companies of the metallurgical and machine-building complexes, new brands were presented at the event. For example, Russian Stainless Company, which will commission a stainless steel sheet plant in the coming years, Magnitogorsk Rolling Rolls Plant, which is building a steel roll production facility, the Balakovo Metallurgical Cluster, where a state-of-the-art rail rolling mill is being built, and the joint distribution network of Severstal and A GROUPP, as well as Severstal Steel Solutions and Ventalla, a joint structure of Severstal Steel Solutions, were represented at Metal-Expo for the first time.
The majority of exhibitors expressed high levels of satisfaction with the professional composition of the forum visitors, the intensity of communication and the richness of the events. Mr. V. Klochay, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ruspolymet Group, commented, "The exhibition yielded optimistic impressions." He added that the event's comprehensive business program enabled the company's specialists to engage in numerous meetings and negotiations with partners and forum participants. These interactions facilitated discussions on pertinent matters related to the metallurgy industry, facilitated well-balanced decision-making on current challenges, and established the company's contractual foundation for the forthcoming years.
At the opening ceremony of Metal-Expo'2024, the winners of the Main Event of the Year in the Russian Metallurgy competition, Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) and Southern Mining and Metallurgical Complex (SMMC), were presented with their awards.
A meeting of the Coordination Council for Industrial Policy in the metallurgical complex was held under the chairmanship of M. Yurin, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia. The meeting was attended by the heads of all leading metallurgical companies and focused on key issues facing the industry, including the provision of domestic equipment and materials, mineral resource development and logistics improvements. The participants highlighted that in 2025, infrastructure projects and machine building will drive increased demand for steel products.
The industry will need to develop new types of steel products and special steel grades. It was also noted at the meeting that investment projects in various areas of metallurgy are currently being implemented and developed in Russia with the help of state support, including the creation of a domestic stainless steel cluster, development of a beryllium deposit and technology for the production of bearing steels with particularly high requirements, creation of a full cycle of magnet production and other projects. M. Yurin emphasised the need to provide the industry with raw materials, equipment and personnel, as well as the importance of government support in promoting steel products on export markets and stimulating domestic consumption.
The main topic of discussion at the recent meeting of the Metallurgy Committee of Business Russia was the promotion of Russian steel products abroad. The meeting participants proposed reforming the export strategy. The proposal's core objective is to prioritise the growth of international business operations by minimising exporters' obstacles to trade. This is particularly pertinent in light of the anticipated decline in domestic demand by 2025. Expansion of external supplies is becoming the most important task for Russian steel companies. I. Demchenko, Chairman of the Committee and Chairman of the Management Board of Novostal-M Metallurgical Holding, believes that the state should help Russian steel companies to expand their exports. He suggests that the government should support suppliers of specific types of steel products along specific routes, enabling them to reduce logistics costs. Priority destinations should be Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.
Another avenue for expanding Russian steel exports is to deepen the collaboration between companies and promote Russian engineering projects abroad. This will encompass a range of activities, from advisory assistance and the dissemination of best practices to joint deliveries of steel products along specific routes with the aim of reducing logistics costs. According to I. Demchenko, these measures will facilitate an increase in Russian exports of steel products as early as 2025, reversing the negative trend observed between 2022 and 2024.
General directors of major steel companies were present at meetings with counterparties. For instance, Metalloinvest Chairman of the Board of Directors N. Efendiev and CEO O. Krestinin held a session entitled 'Drivers of Sustainable Supply Chains', during which the outcomes of the third ESG rating of suppliers were presented. "The ESG rating has become a crucial instrument for developing sustainable supply chains. Nearly half of its participants demonstrate significant progress in sustainability on an annual basis. Our partners are enhancing their standards and becoming more reliable and responsible," stated Metalloinvest CEO O. Krestinin.
Thousands of business negotiations and promising contracts were concluded at Metal-Expo'2024. In particular, MMK and SOLLERS signed a memorandum of cooperation on localization of stamping production of automobiles. MMK also agreed to expand cooperation with DoorHan, a supplier of infrastructure solutions.
Kamensk-Uralsky Metallurgical Plant and the Central Design Bureau for Hydrofoil Vessels, named after R.E. Alekseev, have reached an agreement on the delivery of rolled and pressed products for the production of passenger hydrofoils Valday and Meteora in the period between 2025 and 2030.
At YuGMK's stand, a partnership agreement was signed with the Bardin Central Research Institute of Chermet. This agreement forms part of the I.P. Bardin investment project, which will see the construction of a longitudinal continuous casting machine and a furnace-ladle section with gas cleaning in the BOF shop of YuGMK.
At the I.P. Bardin Central Research Institute of Chermet. Negotiations were held with DDMET, a leading Chinese manufacturer of metallurgical equipment. The parties discussed potential collaboration in the field of engineering, with a focus on various projects. Furthermore, on the Metal-Expo'2024 site, with the active involvement of the Institute's experts, a meeting was held on the Interindustry Programme of works to develop new types and improve the quality of metal products for the automotive industry under the guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia. The seventh programme for 2024-2030, which includes more than 30 directions in the sectors of long and sheet steel, pipes, powder metallurgy, development of normative documentation, has commenced. The working group meeting demonstrated that the majority of the directions are already operational, with pilot batches produced for select product types. AVTOVAZ and KAMAZ represent the primary customers for the new steel grades.
At a meeting of the Foundry and Forging and Pressing Committee of the Metallurgy and Heavy Engineering Committee of the Russian Engineering Union, the potential of import substitution and the development of powder metallurgy were discussed.
The Russian Union of Metal and Steel Suppliers (RUMSS) hosted a meeting of producers, suppliers and consumers of raw and rolled non-ferrous metals. The business event brought together over 60 managers and specialists from companies operating in the non-ferrous metals market. The participants discussed the current state of affairs in the Russian non-ferrous metals market, near-term prospects and key growth drivers, interaction between producers and traders, and a number of other topical issues.
The 23rd Scientific and Technical Conference, entitled 'New promising materials, equipment and technologies for their production', was well attended. The prospective materials, equipment and technologies on display are of interest to a diverse range of stakeholders, including manufacturers, research centres and leading technical universities. The event featured presentations by representatives from CNIITMASH, MMK, Kushva Rolling Rolls Plant, United Metallurgical Company, Pipe Metallurgical Company, Vyksa Metallurgical Plant, Ural Steel, Moscow Polytechnic University, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, and other prominent organisations. The conference was followed by the presentation of Metal-Expo gold and silver medals in recognition of outstanding achievements in the production of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as modern equipment and technologies for metallurgy and metalworking.
The students participated in the 'The Future is being laid today' event, during which the nominees of the Young Scientists Award were honoured. In addition to diplomas, numerous works were recognised with cash prizes. Metal-Expo diplomas have been presented to young scientists for 15 years. The award is typically a springboard for professional activity. Consequently, 50% of the awardees have gone on to become candidates for science-related roles, with many now occupying senior positions in production, science and education. All Russian metallurgical enterprises are currently seeking to recruit young employees, given the acute shortage of personnel currently experienced by the industry. To address the shortage of young professionals in science and production, a comprehensive approach is essential. It is crucial for young professionals to have the opportunity to engage fully in tangible projects that align with their skills and interests.
A number of events were held with the objective of increasing the use of steel products in the construction sector, which represents the largest market for metal consumption. By way of illustration, the round table of long products manufacturers, entitled 'Introduction of new products and services in the processes of production and application of steel products', brought together all major Russian rebar manufacturers, as well as scientists and representatives of standardisation bodies. The experts discussed the approval of the new GOST for rolled products of A550 and A650 classes, as well as options for updating GOST 34028, with the aim of aligning it with the main mass types of rebar.
The players of the steel construction market discussed the initiatives of the professional community and the Association for the Development of Steel Construction at several specialised conferences. For example, the 25th Scientific and Technical Seminar ‘Zinc - Corrosion Protection’ analysed the state of affairs in the field of hot-dip galvanising of steel structures. At the conferences of the Melnikov Central Research Institute of Zinc-Proofing and Steel Frames of Buildings (modern technologies and constructions, as well as risks of operation) were discussed. The meeting of manufacturers of galvanised and painted rolled products, organised by RUMSS, was attended by over 80 managers and specialists of steel mills, flat rolled products processors and consumers of corrugated board, metal tile, sandwich panels and other profile metal products. More than 60 companies-designers and plants of metal constructions gathered at the round table ‘Problems of metal constructions industry and ways of their solution’. For the first time, the Steel Beam award ceremony was held.
At the traditional round table on marketing, participants discussed the changes that took place in the metal consumption market in 2024 and provided insights into future trends and demand structures. The event also featured award ceremonies for the winners of communication contests, recognizing the best Metal-Vision video production, the best corporate media, and the best internet projects in 2024 among metallurgical and metal trading companies in Russia and CIS countries.
The autumn Metal Week programme comprised over 50 events, providing an invaluable opportunity for market participants to meet face-to-face and discuss recent trends. The four-day metals forum was characterised by a high level of business activity. Negotiations were ongoing throughout the event. For instance, EVRAZ conducted over 100 negotiations at its stand and welcomed over 1,000 visitors. TMK employees collectively worked 1,280 hours at the exhibition, not including a separate event where the company presented certificates to official dealers representing TMK products in Russia and neighbouring countries. Additionally, NLMK Group, EVRAZ, Severstal, Metalloinvest, Novostal-M and other companies held their own informal meetings with dealers, customers and partners.
Offline communication once again proved to be highly effective and in demand. For example, the video studio of Severstal's customer and partner community ‘Together’ held 29 broadcasts with key partners from various industries. These broadcasts were attended by Severstal's CEO A. Shevelev, Deputy CEO for Sales and Operations E. Chernyakov, SME Director V. Romanovsky, who oversees the distribution network, and other top managers of the company. ‘Domestic manufacturers have successfully adapted to the current market conditions, but the issues of optimising and increasing business efficiency remain high on the agenda. At the exhibition, we presented our products, services and solutions that respond to current demands in key industries and can give additional impetus to the development of key market segments,’ commented, in particular, E. Chernyakov.
The number of delegates from corporate organisations ranged from 50 to 100 or more. Thousands of steel product consumers from a range of sectors, including aircraft, shipbuilding, automotive, oil and gas, transport and energy, were pleased to have the opportunity to meet with their suppliers at the event. The exhibition provided an invaluable opportunity for guests to gain detailed insights into promising developments, new services and innovative models of collaboration. The direct contact between producers and consumers of products, demonstration of industry know-how, exchange of experience and long-term forecasting, and discussion of prospective strategies will undoubtedly be an important factor in the further development of the metallurgical complex and related industries.
Metal-Expo provides an excellent opportunity for existing and new partners to establish sustainable business relations. The majority of exhibiting companies have expressed satisfaction with the forum's intensive work, noting its effectiveness for business development. Many have already booked space for their expositions next year. The exhibition is scheduled to take place at the largest exhibition and congress centre in the North-West of Russia, ExpoForum, St. Petersburg, from 11 to 14 November 2025. The exhibition centre is conveniently located near Pulkovo Airport, with a hotel cluster in close proximity, making Metal-Expo'2025 an extremely logistically advantageous venue.
We would like to extend an invitation to you to participate in the 31st International Industrial Exhibition, Metal-Expo'2025, which will take place from 11-14 November 2025.