Quarterly BIR Report Released

While acknowledging that markets for most grades of nonferrous scrap  have enjoined a successful run, representatives from various BIR member companies are starting to express caution that the strong price and demand movement may be coming to an end.

According to Marc Natan, president of the BIR’s Non-Ferrous Metals Division, markets could be nearing a short term peak. “Is it possible that China – the driving force behind the world economy – may fail? Could the acceleration in U.S. activity, underpinned by consumption but minus job creation, suddenly hit the brakes? These .two pillars of world economic growth must not collapse since the result would be a turnaround in the demand trend and a fall in raw material prices.”

Another area mentioned by Natan is that prices are high and margins are satisfactory. However, consumers of recycled material – most of whom have sufficient stocks – have increased discounts on primary products. Exporters are noting that, for the moment, their new Asian partners are not inclined blindly to follow LME increases.

In this quarterly report, representatives from the nonferrous markets in India, the Middle East, Southern Africa, Russia, the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Nordic Countries touches on some of the factors that are having an influence on their markets.

Members of the Bureau of International Recycling may read the full report by going to the web site, www.bir.org.

For more information on the association contact BIR at bir@bir.org.