UBC scrap spreads: A market caught between a thaw and a simmer
While spreads in the 66-67% range offer relief from the 82-83% squeeze seen earlier this year, they’re resting on a delicate equilibrium.
Category: Pulse
West Coast port congestion
West Coast congestion returns as tariff chaos fuels container surge.
Week-in-review: Smelters, scrap, and a squeeze play
Terminal markets firmed up amid new smelting announcements, tightening bauxite expectations, and jittery macro signals.
Teamsters gain foothold at Real Alloys
Real Alloy’s Morgantown plant voted to join Teamsters Local 89. Time will tell whether this will prove unsettling to this operation, given the Teamster's history with the company.
Billet Market Starts to Move Higher
The billet market has been quiet in 2025 so far, but extruders exposed to the spot market are now facing some challenges.
Recyclers aren’t on the menu; they have a seat at the table
ReMA's Spotlight on Aluminum highlighted a litany of pressure points shaping the industry, with a particular emphasis on the aluminum scrap frontier.
From the front lines to the furnace: Aluminum’s role in American resilience
Memorial Day gives us a moment to reflect on the materials and industries that have supported American strength.
Recycled metal exports bans - An idea that masks the problem
Domestic increases in mill capacity and a struggling recycling rate, amid China's relaxed UBC scrap import policy, fail to make the case for banning US exports.
Container bookings and prices surge
Average bookings for the seven days ended on May 14th skyrocketed, which could cause bottlenecks, as containers getting stripped and shipped from the Los Angeles/Long Beach ports
The downside of the US-China tariff rollback: Container lines’ price hikes
The container lines operating in this shipping lane were quick to respond to the expected surge in freight demand.