UBC scrap spreads: A market caught between a thaw and a simmer

After a rough start to the year, it would seem the floodgates of used beverage can (UBC) supply are reopening based on recent buying spreads.

UBC buying spreads – the price mills pay for baled cans as a percentage of the Midwest transaction price of aluminum – tightened drastically throughout the first quarter, but recently widened again ahead of the busy season for can consumption.

Nicholas Bell

Nicholas brings over half a decade of experience covering metals markets, pricing trends, and supply chain dynamics. Prior to joining AMU, he reported on aluminum, high-temperature scrap, and ferro-alloy markets at Argus Media, with additional coverage of minor metals and rare earths. His work has built deep expertise in North American metals pricing and trade flows. A native of Houston, Nicholas holds a bachelor’s degree in Media Production and an MBA with a concentration in Finance, both from the University of Houston.