Why Do Scrap Metal Prices Change?

Like with any form of metal, scrap metal prices are always changing. Prices can soar high at times, but they fall unpredictably as well. This means that if you’re selling 10 pounds of copper today, it may be worth more or less than it was yesterday. In this article, we’ll discuss the many different reasons that the prices for different types of scrap metals fluctuate! 

Stockpile Levels 

Some countries such as India and China are the center of recycled materials. These countries also happen to be ones that purchase the most scrap metal in the world for recycling purposes.  

Scrap metal prices are likely to drop when they have large stockpiles of metal scraps. This is because they stop purchasing scraps from other countries in such cases. On the other hand, scrap metal prices increase when their supply is low. In such cases, countries are willing to pay more for metal scraps. 

Market Demand 

The price fluctuations in scrap metal work the same way that it works for all the other businesses and industries. The prices go up when there is a higher demand for metal in various projects. These projects include construction, product manufacturing, or infrastructure improvement. This is also different for different metals, depending on the kind of industry that requires metal scraps. You may have noticed that different metals face different changes in their prices. For instance, steel prices could be rising while the prices for copper could be experiencing no change.  

Fuel Prices 

Fuel prices affect all kinds of industries in the world, including the scrap metal recycling industry. As fuel prices go up, the prices of metal scrap experience an increase. On the other hand, prices of scrap metal fall when fuel is cheaper around the world. The metal scrap industry works by recycling the metals using heat. Heating the scraps allows the industry to melt and turn them into new products. This heat can either be produced through electricity, coal, or natural gas.  

Market Requirements 

Another reason for fluctuation in scrap metal prices is the market requirements for scraps. Countries that are major purchasers of metal scrap tend to change their buying policies and classifications. The selling countries may follow different criteria, causing issues and blips in the market, resulting in a price change.

Contact Allied Recycling!

If you’re interested in recycling scrap metal in the Massachusetts area or have any questions about the recycling services we provide, don’t hesitate to contact Allied Recycling! Call our team today at (508) 668-8699 or fill out the contact form on our website, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!