Prestige Economics, World Steel Dynamics, SunCoke Energy and more at Smithers Apex’s Met Coke World Summit

PORTLAND, Maine--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Smithers Apex has secured participation from the leading coke, coal and steel players for Met Coke World Summit 2012, scheduled for November 13-15, 2012 at the Marriott Pittsburgh City Center in Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Prestige Economics, World Steel Dynamics, SunCoke Energy, Cru, Blaschak Coal Corp, Doyle Trading Consultants and many others will be presenting at this 16^th annual conference and exhibition. Key topics to be covered include the impact of the 2012 federal and local elections on the global met coke industry, health drivers for coal, coke and steel and how advances in coke making technology can reduce costs and improve performance. Early bird pricing for the conference expires Friday, October 12, 2012.

This year's event will be co-chaired by Terry Hale, Senior Vice President, Patriot Coal Sales LLC; P. Michael (Mike) Hardesty, Senior Vice President, Sales and Commercial Operations, SunCoke Energy and Matthew McGrath, Principal, International Carbon & Energy. Joining them on the advisory committee are Mo Reed, Director Engineering, Raw Materials, and Energy, AK Steel; Mike Barkdoll, VP, Forest Vue Research LLC; Dr Neil J. Bristow, Principal/Managing Consultant, H&W Worldwide Consulting Pty Ltd; Mike Crowder, CEO, Cobalt Coal and Daniel Walton, Senior Coal Advisor, Wood Mackenzie.

“With the global economy continuing to experience uncertainty and coking coal prices falling, there is no more important time for the industry to come together to learn from experts and each other. The Met Coke World Summit has a long history of delivering timely and accurate forecasts of coking coal, coke, and steel markets, plus the industry connections needed to capitalize on that information,” said Andrew Smaha, conference director at Smithers Apex.

Smaha continued “Our advisory board has crafted the 2012 agenda to ensure that when our delegates leave Pittsburgh, they'll understand the rate of growth in the relevant markets - including Latin America, North America, Europe and Asia - so that they can assess relative demand and price pressure and make the right strategic decisions. On the other side of the ledger, we will talk process efficiencies, logistics and equipment advancements that will drive down the cost of operations. With more than 300 coke, coal and steel leaders expected and more industry support than ever before, Met Coke 2012 is a must-attend this November.”

Attendees at Met Coke 2012 will hear from Alpha Natural Resources, Blaschak Coal Corp, CRU, Doyle Trading Consultants, LLC, Ministry of Steel, Government of India, Patriot Coal Sales LLC, PBS Coals, Prestige Economics, LLC, River Hill Coal, SGS North America, Sinosteel Refractory Co., Ltd. (China), SunCoke Energy, Taggart Global, Westbrook Thermal Technology, Wood Mackenzie, World Steel Dynamics and XCoal Energy & Resources. Other organizations presenting include American Coke & Coal Chemicals Institute, Cardno MM&A, Coal Science Inc., Ingram Barge Company, International Carbon & Energy LLC, Island Sales Ltd, Raw Materials & Ironmaking Global Consulting, Schalker Eisenhütte Maschinenfabrik GmbH, SSY Shipbrokers, The Steel Index and ThyssenKrupp Uhde Services GmbH.

The Met Coke World Summit 2012 audience will include producers and suppliers of coke, coal and steel; associations, consultants and investors; equipment and related materials suppliers; and dealers, traders and brokers. For more information on the Met Coke World Summit 2012, visit www.metcokeworldsummit.com or visit the conference LinkedIn page.

About Smithers Apex

Smithers Apex, formerly known as IntertechPira, is a global business that provides events, market research, publications and strategic and technical consulting to an expanding list of niche, emerging and high growth industries, including the coke, coal and steel industries. Market coverage also includes the home and personal care; lighting, imaging and displays; plastic electronics and the alternative energy industries. For more information about Smithers Apex, please visit www.smithersapex.com.