Electric wire and cable professionals to convene in Hanover for CRU's strategic talks
CRU, the independent reference point for wire and cable market intelligence, will host its flagship CRU Wire & Cable Conference in Hanover from June 23 to 25, 2026.
Marking its 20th anniversary as the sector’s leading global meeting, the CRU Wire & Cable Connections Summit 2026 is set to welcome senior decision-makers from more than 30 countries. The event will provide in-depth market insights, high-level networking opportunities, and discussion on technologies supporting a more sustainable and electrified future.
Focus on electrification, grids, and energy transition
The 2026 edition will gather top executives, technical specialists, and key stakeholders to examine the transformation of power generation, grid development, energy security, and digitalization. These topics are increasingly critical as electricity demand rises due to the electrification of industrial operations, hyperscale data centers, and sustainable mobility. Delegates will also be able to join an exclusive visit to the Nexans Stella Nova facility, offering direct insight into advanced and sustainable production of superconducting systems and cryogenic technologies.
Key agenda themes include the global wire and cable market outlook, raw material market trends, smarter and more sustainable cable manufacturing, grid expansion strategies, grid infrastructure with a focus on project finance and execution, and developments in power generation and electricity consumption.
Market outlook: fundamentals remain strong despite challenges
Aisling Hubert, Wire & Cable at CRU, commented:
"Global electrification continues at pace, with aggregated demand for wire and cable reaching record levels. Structural drivers remain firmly in place: the expansion of clean power, the need for ever-greater connectivity, and the rapid growth of new applications such as data centres. The industry has become increasingly synonymous with the infrastructure of modern living.
The past year has not been without challenges. Trade uncertainty, policy shifts and commodity price volatility have reshaped risk profiles across major markets, while cyclical slowdowns in construction and industry have introduced pockets of softness. At the same time, supply chains continue adjusting to higher financing costs and tighter operating margins.
Yet the underlying fundamentals remain compelling. Demand for energy and connectivity applications continues to rise, and technological progress is pushing boundaries, delivering higher-voltage systems, lower-loss networks, more sustainable and circular material pathways, and increasingly sophisticated advanced materials. These developments are enabling faster deployment, improved performance and reduced environmental footprints across the global grid.
As economies accelerate towards electrification and digitalization, wire and cable is not simply keeping pace, it is defining the next era of infrastructure, with a growth outlook that remains decisively optimistic."
A summary of the latest insights from CRU can be found in the Wire & Cable Quarterly section, published quarterly by Expometals:
- Wire & cable market trends for 2026 according to CRU
