BIR World Mirror on Non-Ferrous Metals - September 2012

Extraneous forces in play

Non-ferrous markets have shown good signs of strength as we enter the higher-demand, post-summer period. While consumer demand doesn’t show as much strength as one would think based on the run-ups in most metals, the usual extraneous forces have come into play: economic steps taken in the United States and Europe to stimulate their economies; strikes and labor unrest at South African precious metals mines; and various other factors that we usually construe to be financial in nature.

Demand from China is threatened by a slowdown in its economy, and fears that copper consumption will decline. While no-one seems to be certain as to what stockpiles of refined copper, or scrap for that matter, might be, it is and will continue to be the region that will establish world prices regardless of any decreased interest. 

Our Convention in Barcelona is taking shape, and we are pleased to have two fine speakers for the Non-Ferrous Metals session: Norberto Vidaña of international aluminium components producer Nemak and Colin Pratt of independent consulting company CRU Strategies, who will be presenting the results of the first-ever worldwide study on non-ferrous scrap flows. I look forward to meeting with you there.

Robert Stein
Alter Trading (USA)
President of the BIR Non-Ferrous Metals Division
September 2012

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