We May Be Entering A Long, Flat Sideways Peak

Dr Edwin Basson, as the Director General of the World Steel Association (worldsteel), is focused on taking steel consumption to places in a global industry that has been rocked by the slowdown but is just beginning to sprout some green shoots. Madhumita Mookerji caught up with the ‘man of steel’ on the sidelines of the recently-held Indian Steel Markets Conference, organised in Kolkata by mjunction services limited, for a freewheeling interview, where he spoke on topics ranging from the impact of Trumponomics on global steel, China’s impending demand plateau of the metal, India’s future steel prospects and how, globally, steel usage growth will level out because ‘circularisation’ will displace new demand. Excerpts:​​​​​

How frequently do you travel to India?

It depends. Last year I visited only once, but this year I will be here four times, something which reflects India’s increasingly important place in the global steel industry. A couple of years ago, India overtook the United States to become the world’s third-largest steel producing country and it is poised to overtake Japan in the very near future. Interestingly, when the cycle picks up, I find myself touring India a lot more. As a point of comparison, I generally visit China three to four times a year.

What role does the World Steel Association (worldsteel) play in promoting steel consumption?

Worldsteel acts as the focal point for the steel industry, not just in promoting steel consumption, but in providing global leadership on all major strategic issues impacting the industry, particularly focusing on economic, environmental and social sustainability.

It delivers benchmarking analysis and drives global improvement initiatives in the areas of environmental protection, technology, safety and people development as well as promoting global market development opportunities for steel and promoting steel to the world at large.

It provides on a timely basis world-class economic data and analysis on the global steel industry and its value chain, as well as assessments on life cycle aspects of steel.

Worldsteel increases awareness, understanding and support for the steel industry amongst all external stakeholders and key target audiences worldwide. It also promotes market competition that is free of government interventions preventing fair trade.

What do you feel about the present global steel scenario? Had you seen any green shoots arising which may have been stumped because of Trumponomics?