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Scrap Metal Market Mid-March 2020 Update: China & Steel Overproduction

In the last Market & Metals post, it was reported that after two consecutive months of increase, scrap steel marginally dropped by 2.4 percent in price on a national level. This figure is largely insignificant now because at the time, the economic effects of the global pandemic that is the coronavirus had not yet fully impacted the world economy and steel market. Scrap steel pricing struggles have been a common theme these past couple of months. Year-to-date, scrap steel is 20.3 percent less valuable than it was in March 2019. 

In recent years, US steelmakers have often made Chinese mills’ overproduction of steel their scapegoat as to why they lack pricing power, yet at the same time China has also always been one of the world’s largest ferrous scrap importers. However, this status may rapidly shift considering recent trends in Chinese economic activity, or lack-thereof. During the first two months of 2020, steady U.S. steel stocks and the expectation of a good year for the construction and automotive sector masked the severity of global steel overproduction. Now, ferrous scrap processors have seen fewer of their export tons head to China. This sparks cause for concern due to the fact that an abundance of steel in the global market is likely to pressure ferrous scrap and steel to reduce in price.

What is most puzzling is that this has been going on for several years, and no party showed genuine concern. In fact, as recently as mid-February, North American steel remained completely optimistic in regard to business despite obvious economic slowdown in China. The global steel market’s troubles go beyond overproduction while demand remains low. Now add in a pandemic that affects every aspect of the industry’s supply chain. The Chinese economy’s inability to meet their usual level of import demand may cause short-term problems in the near future of this fiscal year. In sum, the way that industry experts respond to this adversity will be particularly interesting, especially if the coronavirus continues to spread. Come back in two weeks to see a follow up and analysis of April 2020’s national and regional scrap steel price updates.

 

NOTE: All figures are believed to be reliable and represent approximate pricing based on information obtained prior to publication. Data is sourced from American Recycler, London Metal Exchange, iScrap App, and Scrap Monster.  Advanced Remarketing Services is not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, or for the use or application of information herein.

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