BIR World Mirror on Non-Ferrous Metals - March 2013

What goes around ...

Non-ferrous scrap markets, just like all commodities, enjoy (or suffer) the cyclicality of the demand and supply paradigm. Who might be “in the driver’s seat” changes constantly, something that both scrap merchant and consumer need always to keep in mind. What goes around, as they say, comes around.

I am reminded of a story told to me by a veteran of our industry who last year had the opportunity to visit a large copper smelter to whom he had recently begun shipping scrap. After traveling quite literally half way around the world, and then some, he anticipated a cordial greeting from the smelter manager. “Your prices are the highest that we have to pay anybody in the world, your quality is at best average, your shipments are late and your communications are poor.” My proud friend was astonished; after all, he has been in the copper scrap game beyond three decades.  He protested that he was proud of his scrap, that it had universal acceptance as a quality product, and that it was competitively priced.

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