Another year is almost finished. When it comes to scrap yard management, assessing how you fared this year will help you prepare for 2017. Despite a post-election uptick, scrap metal prices largely hampered the recycling industry during 2016. Just the fact that you still open your doors every day means…
The ScrapyardPro Blog
Aluminum Overcapacity Targeted
Photo by JAXPORT U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) have urged the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to bring a World Trade Organization (WTO) case against China in an effort to address aluminum overcapacity. “Exponential growth in China’s aluminum sector, fueled by heavily subsidized, government-directed lending, has had…
Steel Production Slows in 1st Half
Crude steel production was flat in June and down -1.9 percent in the first six months of 2016, the World Steel Association (worldsteel) reported in its most recent steel production update. First-half production increased by 0.6 percent in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) but declined by: -0.6 percent in North…
Scrapyards Project Improvements but Material Prices still a Concern
Recycling center operators project slight increases in scrap metal prices over the coming year. Ferrous and non-ferrous prices should improve slightly within the next three, six and 12 months, according to respondents to the ScrapyardPRO Scrap Metal Market Outlook. Respondents continue to worry about the economy and material prices though, and…
Steel Market Forecast for 2016 Slightly Optimistic
Steel market forecasts for 2016 call for a slight rebound in demand, which could boost depressed scrap metal prices. Recovery is contingent upon consumption increasing in China, where demand and prices have dropped precipitously. The World Steel Association (worldsteel) projects global steel demand to increase by 0.7 percent in 2016…
Scrapyards Squeeze Spending
If tough times don’t last they certainly linger. A prolonged slump in scrap prices is prompting recycling centers to scale back or sell—and the pressures are likely to continue. The total value of U.S. exports of all scrap commodities to China, whose once voracious appetite for commodities has weakened with…
Texas Scrap Metal Laws Changing
Texas metal recycling entitites (MREs) will soon have to start issuing transaction cards to pay customers by cash or debit card. As of Sept. 1, 2015, Texas scrap yards must comply with the provisions of HB 2187, including the requirement that MREs issue cash transaction cards to their customers. “Unless…
Set Positive Goals for Safety Programs
Focus on your efforts. Not the results. That’s the essence of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s policy for a Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), under which employers, employees and OSHA collaborate to make a workplace safer. So, while the beginning of the year is a good time to set safety goals for…
Sluggish Economies Abroad Pressure U.S. Scrap Prices
Declining metals prices are pinching profitability for scrapyards. Scrap consumers are paying them less but yards are forced to pay their customers more to get them to sell in a deflated market. “When prices tend to come off there’s less incentive for people to bring materials into the yards because…
Tips to Prevent Metals Theft
Metals theft poses a danger to communities across the country. In recognition of this year’s National Crime Prevention Month (October), Scrapyard Pro offers the following tips for preventing metals theft: To prevent the removal and stripping of air conditioning units of their metal coils, property owners may enclose their unit…