US domestic secondary aluminum scrap prices varied amid fewer trades in the secondary market this week.
The weekly Davis Index for old sheet rose by 0.4¢/lb to 70.3¢/lb delivered US consumer while old cast declined by 1.1¢/lb to 68.2¢/lb delivered. Secondary MLC increased by 2.4¢/lb to 79.5¢/lb delivered after being pulled up by its primary scrap counterpart.
Secondary painted siding rose by 1.8¢/lb to 72¢/lb delivered and the Davis Index for high-grade turnings increased by 1.4¢/lb to 67¢/lb delivered.
The official LME Aluminium cash price settled Wednesday at $2,508/mt ($1.095/lb), down by $15/mt from Jun 30.
Twitch inched up by 0.2¢/lb to 76.2¢/lb delivered. Domestic sales have reduced drastically with most material being shipped overseas amid demand for high-grade scrap in Asia. The Davis Index for Zorba 95/2 settled at 64¢/lb, up 1.3¢/lb due to limited supply with sellers trying to raise offers to make up for losses in the export market due to new regulations in China and Malaysia.
Many smelters remain firmly out of the market amid production shutdowns, which began this week. Demand for secondary scrap is currently subdued in the market, and pricing is being driven by overheads such as freight and influence from exports. The labor shortage at smelters continues and is limiting production capacities, and in turn, buyer schedules.