UK Metals Expo Q&A: Tata Steel UK’s Christiane Taylor

Tata Steel UK pricing manager Christiane Taylor believes that the steelmaker’s shift to EAF-based steel production will be a “hot topic” at the UK Metals Expo 2024. 

Taylor told MEPS International that she considers the Expo – taking place at the NEC Birmingham on September 11 and 12 – a “key event” as Tata looks to communicate the positive effects of its transition to lower emissions steelmaking.  

She is one of four steel market experts who will join the Carbon Steel Market: Navigating Trends and Price Dynamics panel debate, hosted by MEPS head of price analysis and forecasts, Kaye Ayub. 

The debate takes place on the Expo’s Supply Chain, Trade and Policy theatre from midday on September 11. 

MEPS has also expanded its presence at this year’s UK Metals Expo, where its team of steel price researchers and analysts will be located on stand B50. 

As part of a series of MEPS articles intruding the participants in Ayub’s UK Metals Expo panel discussions, we spoke to Taylor about her career in steel and expectations for the event.   

How did you start your career in the steel sector? 

I was at Corus, now Tata Steel, on a university work placement, writing my dissertation about the Corus brand and the corporate culture after all the changes that had come at the business previously. Initially, my placement was in the corporate communications department in London. Everything I worked on was related to the management of the Corus brand. After completing my dissertation and degree, I decided to stay with the company and moved from Germany to London. I immediately felt at home in the city. London feels very European, with a huge mix of cultures and nationalities.  

How did you progress to the job you have today? 

After several years in London, I moved to Birmingham where I worked in the distribution division of Tata Steel. Following a restructure in the business under Tata, I had a number of marketing roles and then about two years ago I took on my current role as pricing manager. 

What is the most rewarding part of your job? 

As pricing manager, I get to network with many colleagues both internally and externally which is very rewarding. I also have to have a good understanding of what is happening in the wider economy, and the different trends and market dynamics globally that drive supply, demand and steel prices. What I also like about steel, is that it is so fundamental to everything we build and manufacture and it has a key part to play in the circular economy with the potential to become a very low emission industry. 

What is the biggest day-to-day challenge faced by your business? 

The biggest challenge for the Tata Steel UK business right now is the transition to EAF steelmaking and taking our customers with us, ensuring the transition is as smooth as possible. We’re very proud that we’ll be in the first wave of flat steel producers in Europe moving to EAF. Customers have been very engaged in this dialogue and want us to be able to offer green steel with reduced emissions. 

Do you foresee a standout ‘hot topic’ for the UK Metals Expo? 

I think the transition to lower emissions steelmaking is likely to be the hot topic, and how we can support a circular economy and localise supply chains, both upstream to leverage UK sources for raw materials and downstream to support other sectors’ net-zero ambitions. 

What do you hope to take away from the event? 

I look forward to hearing from across the supply chain about the challenges and opportunities they are facing and their outlook on 2025.  Tata’s transition to EAF will reduce the UK’s CO2 emissions by about 1.5%, and our ambition is to produce net zero steel by 2045. The UK Metals Expo is a good opportunity to communicate our vision and discuss with our customers how our green offering will benefit them.