Wreckonomics™ 1.2: Scrap Markets

[avatar user="croberts" size="thumbnail" align="left" /] In our last post we started a conversation about vehicle retirement; today I’m weighing in on the conversation as we take a closer look at end of life vehicle (ELV) challenges and solutions. Prior to joining ARS I spent 5 years working in the metal recycling industry.  Long before working

Scrap Metal Market: April 2017

Subscribe to Blog via Email Five in a row for the Scrap Metal Market report!  Last month the national average price of crushed auto bodies kept up the streak of positive growth.  Up by slightly over 6%, the national average is now about $185.  This is the highest the average has reached since August 2016 and a

Scrap Metal Market: January 2017

Subscribe to Blog via Email Throughout 2016 we saw the volatility of the scrap metal market that we've become accustomed to.  However, it ended on a high note as the average crushed auto body price climbed nearer back to the high water mark for the year.  Nationally, the average price settled at roughly $160 for

Scrap Metal Market: September 2016

Scrap metal prices for crushed autobodies saw a 2.45% decrease over the past month (see August 2016 Scrap Metal Market Watch) and have grown 47.82% over the past year. However, this still represents the 35% decrease since January of 2014.

Scrap Metal Market: July 2016

Scrap Metal Market Holds Steady Scrap metal prices for crushed autobodies held steady with 2.17% growth over the past month (see June 2016 Scrap Metal Market Watch), and have grown 31.62% over the past year. Across the Atlantic, the Brexit vote sent a shockwave through the base metal market, temporarily causing prices to plummet. However,

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

Scrap Metal Market: May 2016

Scrap Metal Market Trends Scrap metal prices for crushed autobodies have slightly increased 17.60% over the past month (see April 2016 Scrap Metal Market Watch), and a small uptick of 3.62% over the past year. Over the past month, the automotive industry has struggled to look for an innovative response to continued devaluation. The downward

WSJ: In Scrap-Metal Market, Buyers Have to Tell Darth From Vader

From: WSJ: In Scrap-Metal Market, Buyers Have to Tell Darth From Vader By: John W. Miller When Randy Goodman calls a customer in China, the 51-year-old scrap trader sometimes asks: Do you want Elmo, Shelmo or Zorba? The world’s $100 billion trade in junked cars, refrigerators and other metallic goods hinges on 100 or so short,

WSJ: Scrap-metal sector is latest victim of commodities bust

From: Scrap-metal sector is latest victim of commodities bust By: John W. Miller PITTSBURGH—Cars are piling up at junkyards across the U.S., as the commodities bust that has already bruised mining and metals companies from Ohio to Australia ripples through another sector: scrap. As prices for steel, iron ore and other commodities have dropped because of a demand

WSJ: Anglo’s CEO Predicts Deepening Metals Slump

From: Anglo’s CEO Predicts Deepening Metals Slump (WSJ) By: Scott Patterson & Alex MacDonald Anglo American PLC Chief Executive Mark Cutifani doesn’t think so, saying Monday that 2016 is set to be even more difficult for mining companies and commodity markets than 2015. To put that in perspective, copper and iron-ore prices fell 25% and