Scrap Metal Market: June 2016
Scrap Metal Market Trends Scrap metal prices for crushed autobodies continue to increase 22.52% over the past month (see May 2016 Scrap Metal Market Watch), and have grown 19.51% over the past year. In May, government incentives for steel manufacturers in China were met with a strong response by the U.S. Commerce Department, which imposed
Tesla Effect: Lithium to Lift Commodities
Lithium to Benefit Aluminum, Copper Today, battery-powered vehicles represent only 2% of the consumer market, with lithium demand for batteries at about 175,000 tons annually. Manufacturers including Tesla, Chevrolet, and Nissan have plans to expand production significantly over the next five years, requiring more lithium, which is concentrated in a handful of locations in Chile,
2016 Metals Around The World
2016 Metals Around The World: Consumer Vehicle Edition
Scrap Metal Market: April 2016
Scrap Metal Market Trends Scrap metal prices for crushed autobodies have slightly increased 8.57% over the past month (see March 2016 Scrap Metal Market Watch), but an overall 9.66% decline over the past year. Over the past month, the automotive industry has shown continued signs of devaluation. The Wall Street Journal reported the scrap metal
Aluminum and Copper Plummet
A hybrid of economic forces continues to reduce already depressed prices of metals, including gold, steel, copper, and now aluminum. “China’s stock market crashes again as panicking sellers lose faith” reads today’s headline, underscoring the gravity of weak demand while giving speculators cause to lower oil futures below $50 per barrel.1 Mining production has increased
Metals Tumble Following Greece, China Announcements
Greece Vote Against Austerity Measures Prices of copper and nickel dropped 4.2% and 3.3%1, respectively, following news of Greece’s vote against austerity measures and recent moves by China to prevent a stock-market collapse. The resounding “no” vote in Greece has signaled a potential exit from the euro, prompting market speculators to predict a significant slowdown
Turning a Negative into a Positive
As we all know by now, the scrap metal market has taken a pounding with a strengthening U.S. dollar and slower than expected economic growth internationally, and this is projected to be the case for throughout 2015. However, on the near horizon there is potential bottom-line relief for some firms as new technologies are being
2015 Metals Around The World
2015 Metals Around The World: Consumer Vehicle Edition