Commodities

ISRI Scrap Yearbook 2012

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook 2012 is the most up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the scrap recycling industry in the United States. The yearbook not only includes useful information about the economic and environmental benefits associated with scrap recycling, but also provides readers with commodity-specific overviews of how scrap is generated, processed, traded and used. In addition, the yearbook contains practical examples of the life cycles and material flows of key recycled goods and commodities.

The yearbook is intended as a valuable resource both for members of the scrap industry and related sectors as well as for those looking to learn more about our industry. Teachers and students, policymakers, members of the press and the general public can benefit from learning more about how the scrap recycling industry provides manufacturers with vital and cost-efficient raw materials, while at the same time supporting thousands of good-paying jobs and conserving our natural resources.

The initial section of the yearbook provides readers with an introduction to ISRI, followed by selected economic and environmental-related highlights. For example, in 2011 alone the U.S. scrap recycling industry processed approximately 135 million metric tons of scrap commodities valued at $100 billion while directly and indirectly supporting nearly 460,000 jobs. Subsequent sections provide commodity-specific data and information across a range of scrap commodities, including recycled iron and steel, nonferrous metals, paper, plastics, electronics, tires, glass and textiles. The yearbook appendix breaks down global scrap exports by commodity, volume and value for 2011.
Data for the yearbook were provided by U.S. government agencies, international sources (including the United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database), other industry associations, independent studies and ISRI estimates.

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Monday and Friday Commodities Report

The Monday Report and The Friday Report are weekly member-only e-mail reports that provide updates and analysis on the commodity markets. The reports are released every Monday and Friday morning and are archived at isri.org and at scrap.org.

Pls note: This section is member-only access and requires log-in.

Industry Information

 What's Up With the Price of Scrap 

Prices for a wide variety of commodities—ranging from wheat and rice to steel and oil/gasoline—are known for their volatility, due primarily to the domestic market forces of supply and demand as well as to international currency considerations, investment opportunities, and outright market speculation. Scrap commodity prices are subject to many of these same market forces, and thus are experiencing similar pricing volatility.

 The Case for Rejecting Scrap Export Restrictions (Again!)

Trade groups associated with the U.S. steel industry are talking about export controls again. Every time the cyclical price of scrap starts to increase, the steel industry starts looking for ways to control prices through artificial controls on their scrap inputs. They tried in 1953, 1973, 1979, and considered another try in 2004. Each time the steel industry has sought government help through export controls, the effort has failed.

ISRI Policy on Free and Fair Trade

The scrap recycling industry is an integral part of today’s global economy. By definition, a global economy contemplates the trade of scrap recyclables across international borders. Such trade across borders must be conducted in a free and fair manner.

As part of its role in encouraging free trade, it is proper for ISRI to be a forum for information exchange and education on issues related to free trade. As part of its role in encouraging fair trade, ISRI raises documented issues of unfair or illegal trade practices with the Office of the United States Trade Representative and other appropriate government(s) agency(ies).  Following are some recent examples of steps taken by ISRI in this regard -

Scrap Specifications Circular

The Scrap Specifications Circular provides guidelines for buying and selling a variety of processed scrap commodities, including ferrous, nonferrous, paper, plastics, electronics, rubber, and glass.

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The Scrap Metal Recycling Industry in the United States

The scrap metal recycling industry, backed by more than adequate reserves, continues to meet society’s needs. In the United States last year, the scrap metal recycling industry supplied over 80 million metric tons of commodity grade, recycled material that was sold as valuable feedstock to industrial consumers at home and abroad. For an overview of the key drivers, recent trends and future outlook for the metal recycling industry in the United States, please see this presentation delivered by ISRI Chief Economist and Director of Commodities Joe Pickard at the Virginia Recycling Associations’ annual conference in May 2011.

Contact

Joe Pickard 
Chief Economist
Director, Commodities 
joepickard@isri.org     
202-662-8528