Metall-Expo Organising Committee discusses the "New Reality"
On March 24, a meeting of the Organising Committee of the exhibition of steel structures manufacturers, products and their consumers Steel Structures'2026, the specialised exhibition of manufacturers and suppliers of equipment and technologies for SSCs Steel Service Centres'2026, and the complex of specialised exhibitions Metallurgy.Russia'2026, Litmash.Russia'2026, Tubes.Russia'2026 was held. Heads of industry associations, unions and research centres in metallurgy, construction and mechanical engineering discussed the current situation on global markets and within Russia, the progress of exhibition preparations, and refined their business programmes.
In 2026, steel output in Russia will amount to 62 million tonnes, and 65 million tonnes including the so-called new regions. Consumption of metal products will not exceed 35 million tonnes, compared to 38.8 million tonnes in 2025 — meaning the rolled metal market capacity will decrease by 10%. This is the optimistic scenario, which assumes an improvement in the economic situation in the second half of the current year; in the first months, the sales decline amounted to minus 20–35%. This forecast was presented at the Organising Committee meeting by Viktor Tarnavsky, Head of the Analytics Division of the Metal Supply and Sales Magazine.
Sergei Maslennikov, Head of the Steel Structures Committee of the Russian Steel Suppliers Union (RSPM), was more optimistic. According to his data, in 2025 steel structures output fell by only 7.7% to 8.5 million tonnes. Consumption of rebar also declined only marginally in 2025 compared to 2024, amounting to 9.3 million tonnes. The market volume of galvanised steel in 2025 remained approximately the same as in 2024 — around 4 million tonnes — while polymer-coated rolled products accounted for approximately 2 million tonnes. The volume of housing completions at the end of last year actually increased, particularly in the individual housing construction sector, exceeding 108 million sq m. Moreover, the use of galvanised steel and coated rolled products will continue to expand in construction — in framed partition walls, prefabs, ventilated curtain facade systems, and rafter and sub-rafter systems.
Returning to the May exhibition complex at Timiryazev Centre: the Vavilov hall will host Steel Structures'2026, and the Chayanov hall will host Litmash.Russia'2026. These exhibitions will be complemented by the Steel Service Centres'2026 exposition, which will present technologies and equipment for SSCs and vectors for the development of service offerings. As noted by Alexei Efimov, General Director of Metall-Expo, "the exhibitions will create opportunities for cooperation and interaction between different market players in addressing specific pressing issues." He presented the business programme of the steel construction forum. The first day is, in effect, a Coatings Day: on May 26, the Zinc Development Centre will hold two events: the conferences Coatings — Reliability and Durability. Equipment and Technologies and Modern Corrosion Protection Technologies Using Zinc Powder.
In total, the business programme of the exhibitions includes more than 15 events: conferences, round tables and sessions dedicated to current topics in the development of the steel structures market and the foundry industry. Experts in metallurgy and related industries will discuss the key trends in the steel construction market, rapid construction technologies within Russia's national projects and state programmes, how quality fasteners ensure the reliability of machinery and steel structures, e-commerce, and other pressing topics. The business programme will also feature master classes on galvanising technology, as well as the announcement of results and the award ceremony for the laureates of the Power of Metal competition.
Over many years of operation, the complex of specialised exhibitions has established itself as a meeting place for a wide range of professionals from various industrial sectors. Events of this kind serve as an excellent working tool, helping the steel construction and foundry business to stay abreast of industry development trends and find solutions to current challenges. Through thematic events, visitors will be able to obtain comprehensive information on technological innovations and trends spanning the full spectrum of steel structures, foundry technologies, accessories and castings.
The Exhibition Directorate invites all market participants to Timiryazev Centre on May 26–28 and wishes all exhibitors productive work and the achievement of synergy in the shared endeavour of promoting, popularising and developing the steel construction, metal processing and foundry industry sectors!
