Hard to believe we’re coming into the home stretch of this year… it has flown by.
Attached is an article detailing some of the issues facing the market today. We have seen the cost of raw materials rise while the price of scrap drop. This is not a usual correlation in the markets but given the tariffs and overall political uncertainty it has created some of these imbalances.
The article details one of the largest stainless steel mills in the world – Outokumpu – and the issues they are seeing in the US and around the world.
An excerpt from the article – “Tariffs and geopolitical shifts are doing more than unsettling markets—they’re forcing many industries to rethink materials sourcing,” Outokumpu President and CEO Kati ter Horst says. “Ongoing uncertainty and shifting regulation are causing disruption; policymakers globally must act to safeguard vital infrastructure projects and prevent further delays.”
From conversations I have had with clients in recent weeks and month there has been rethinking on many fronts. From metal to equipment purchases to manufacturing more overseas to closing businesses altogether. A lot of those conversations are on the table and being thought out and discussed in many industries.
As I try to take a step back and look at the market from where we were a year ago the prices of scrap are still high. Steel & stainless steel are about even with last year’s market. Copper and aluminum are both up greatly.
We have to keep taking it one step forward at a time through all of the ups and downs. Make the most educated decisions based on what we know about the markets.
We need to be ready for the turbulence and be able to weather the storm.
As always please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, comments, or concerns.
ARTICLE: https://www.recyclingtoday.com/news/outokumpu-survey-stainless-steel-trading-recycling-tariffs-2025/