Global Outlook is Focus of BIR Ferrous Session

The plenary meeting of the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) Ferrous Division, part of the BIR World Recycling Convention in Rome, has been scheduled for May 31 at 2:30 p.m.

According to Ferrous Division President Christian Rubach, a guest speaker from the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) will be followed by a panel of scrap traders, processors and buyers who will help provide an overview of the state of the global ferrous scrap market.

Guest speaker Barbara Fliess, senior economist in the Trade & Agriculture Directorate of the OECD, is “in charge of a program dealing with nontariff measures affecting trade in nonagricultural goods,” according to a BIR news release. “This program has in recent years emphasized analytical work on technical barriers to trade (TBT) and, most recently, export restrictions with a focus on raw materials including minerals and metals.” In her presentation, Fliess will focus on “Export restrictions targeting steel raw materials, waste and scrap”.

A subsequent panel discussion will examine the current situation and futures trends for ferrous scrap worldwide. Invited panelists include:

• Ronobir Roy, CEO of ArcelorMittal Recycling and general manager of ArcelorMittal responsible for metallics procurement in Northern Europe;
• Antonio Gozzi, managing director of Duferco Group, an Italy-based producer of steel beams and merchant bar products and the next president of Federacciai, the Italian steel association;
• Collin Iles, chairman of United Kingdom-based European Metal Recycling Ltd., a global metal recycling company operating at 150 locations worldwide;
• William Schmiedel, president of Sims Global Trade at Sims Metal Management Ltd., an Australia-based metals and electronics recycler with more than 260 locations on five continents and more than 6,500 employees; and
• Ruggero Alocci, managing director and owner of Alocci Rappresentanze Industriali, an Italian raw material and steel trading company that he founded in 1990.   

“I am very pleased that our division could secure such a knowledgeable panel of speakers,” says Rubach. “Their views and in-depth knowledge of our markets will benefit each and every one of our delegates in their daily business dealings.”