Week in Review: Scrap supply, aluminum trade and more

The recycled metals trade is hoping that 2024 will close on a higher note. As RMU’s Stephen Miller reported, usually, prices for scrap start to rebound with winter weather on the horizon. The October market saw modest price rises in most districts. The Great Lakes region saw the Chicago and Detroit districts keep prices sideways. Still, there’s always a question of how everything will actually play out.

As the industry transitions from extractive steelmaking toward more sustainable methods, one question is whether there will be enough ferrous scrap to support the efforts. Research done by the Steel Manufacturers Association showed new calculations that suggest that steel lifespans may be lower than previously thought. That means more scrap will be available sooner. You can read more about that here.