BIR World Mirror on Non-Ferrous Metals - Issue October 2016

Welcome to Amsterdam!

We have invited three great speakers - Mark Lewon, Christian Schirmeister and Holger Ellmann - to our meeting in Amsterdam to hear them talk about global trends impacting upon the aluminium and copper recycling industries. A panel discussion will follow their short presentations. Also, our dear friend Manfred Beck, founder of Recycling International magazine, will make a farewell speech as he heads into retirement.

Since the Berlin Convention in May, there hasn’t been a dull moment. Non-ferrous metals have rebounded somewhat and then Hanjin Shipping filed for bankruptcy, causing chaos for our industry’s logistics. Hanjin Shipping was the seventh-largest shipping line but carried less than 5% of the world’s cargo. The freight conference consisted of YML, Evergreen, Cosco and K-Line, thus making the situation even worse. Even today, a reasonably large number of containers is stranded in harbours and some Hanjin vessels are not being allowed to enter ports unless back payments are fulfilled.

Before our Round Table meeting in Amsterdam, I have to remind everyone that BIR is providing a platform to registered patrons to share information and for networking. We really appreciate their support and, therefore, we should not allow non-registered bystanders to take advantage of that support.

Safe travels and see you in Amsterdam.

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

Read the full market report in our members' area.