BIR World Mirror on Non-Ferrous Metals - Issue March 2015

The numerous factors behind our fragile market

Severe winter weather in the north east of the USA and the Great Lakes region is causing damaging scrap production and transportation slowdowns. The dockworker contract stand-off at US West Coast ports appears to have been resolved after nine months but a further two months or so will be required to clear up the mess that has accumulated from it. In Europe, Greece has issued reform policies but what will the Euro do next? Tensions still exist in regions where hostilities have been taking place. And finally, the world’s second largest economy has been closed for a week for the Chinese New Year holidays. All of these factors have contributed to fragile market conditions in this ever-fragile world.

Shipments of Zorba and Zebra from the US East Coast to China have been subject to 100% CCIC per-shipment inspection and sample testing since January. There has been no official word from Beijing since this development, but perhaps another colour-coded “Fence” operation is about to be introduced? We shall soon find out.

Thanks to Dhawal, Ibrahim and Sidney for their diligent work on the Non-Ferrous Metals Division programme for Dubai. I am sure it will be another successful convention for us.

by David Chiao
Uni-All Group Ltd (USA)
Interim President of the Non-Ferrous Metals Division
19 January 2015

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