Registration open for the 2026 SMM (11th) APAC Stainless Steel Industry Conference

In 2026, the stainless steel market recovered from a three-year slump, driven by China’s anti-involution policies and Indonesian nickel ore supply constraints. Prices rose rapidly. Mills adjusted raw material mixes, increasing scrap substitution, but faced constraints from tax compliance and falling NPI grades, while high-grade nickel demand rose, exacerbating structural imbalances. The nickel industry shifted from oversupply to a long-term tight balance due to resource and power constraints. Indonesia’s RKAB quota tightening and HPM policy lifted ore prices, and competition for electricity with aluminum smelting raised costs. Nickel prices climbed stepwise in H1.

For chromium, global ferrochrome production continued moving eastward, with China leading. South African policies supported output resumption, pushing ferrochrome supply into surplus. Chrome ore prices spiked briefly due to Middle East conflicts, but high imports pushed port stocks above 5 million mt, leading to an obvious spot surplus and price downturn. Rising uncertainty over South African mining policies signals a new adjustment cycle for chrome supply-demand.

About NCMSS2026

SMM will hold the 2026 SMM APAC Stainless Steel Conference in Shanghai from November 12-13, 2026, inviting stakeholders from the global nickel, chromium, and stainless steel industry to engage in in-depth discussions on hot topics such as the latest market policies, global market developments, and derivatives hedging strategies. The conference brings together practitioners from across the entire industry chain—mining, smelting, stainless steel, and trading—to deeply explore core issues including Indonesian policies, nickel price trends, chromium market, raw material substitution, and medium and long-term supply-demand, breaking down upstream and downstream information barriers and providing references for industry operational decisions.

 Who You Can Meet?

Over 300+ delegates and 40+ speakers from 30+ countries are expected, including:

Government & Policy Authorities:

●   National Economic Council Republic of Indonesia

●   CTCPM (Cellule Technique de Coordination et de Planification Minière)

Industry Players:

●   Norilsk Nickel

●   POSCO

●   China Minmetals Norferrous Metals Co., Ltd.

●   Lygend Resources & Technology Co., Ltd.

●   Pacorini

●   BTR New Materials Group Co., Ltd.

●   Shanghai Liying Industry Co., Ltd.

●   LG Electronics

Industry Associations:

●   Nickel Institute

●   International Molybdenum Association

●   International Chromium Development Association

Why Attend in 2026?

Gathering Global Industry Leaders: Meet 300+ delegates and 40+ speakers from 30+ countries.

Co-located with Shanghai OTC Commodity Derivatives Association: Enable overseas clients to “access” the deep capital pools and risk control resources of China’s over-the-counter derivatives market with just one click, all within a compliant framework.

Gain Strategic Insights: Learn directly from top analysts and industry experts, with access to critical data, policy updates, market trends, and in-depth forecasts.

Expand Business Network: Attract professionals with buying power (mines, traders, NPI smelters) and provide opportunities to meet existing connections and make new ones.

Exclusive 1v1 Meeting: Strategically paired meetings with industry leaders and decision-makers – cultivating exclusive partnerships through confidential business matchmaking.

Conference Details

Dates: November 12-13, 2026

Location: Shanghai, China

Agenda: Access it HERE

Register NOW for Early Bird Price and SAVE 25% OFF, SAVE UP to 150$

Register HERE and get 100% off if you use the code AFRICA2026.