A better balance.Scrap recyclers in April were reporting a better match between flow into their yards and demand from mills, a situation that was reflected in an easing back of per-ton prices for ferrous ferrous (fĕr`əs), iron in the +2 valence state. Containing or having to do with iron. The difference between ferrous and ferric is the number of valence electrons they contain (ferrous contains two and ferric contains three), which scrap. After four straight months of progressively higher prices, North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. mills in general paid from $20 to $40 less per ton for ferrous, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. figures compiled by the Raw Material Data Aggregation Service (RMDAS) operated by Management Science Associates' (MSA (Metropolitan Service Area) An urban area with at least 50,000 people plus surrounding counties. There are 306 MSAs and 428 RSAs (rural service areas) in the U.S. MSAs and RSAs are used to allocate cellular licenses. ), Pittsburgh. Many ferrous shippers say the downturn was not surprising, and that they could see it coming after an unusually hectic March. Part of the March upturn (which saw per ton pricing rising by as much as $80 in some regions) was blamed on one Midwestern mill in particular that found itself bidding prices up in a frantic bid to build up its inventory after running perilously close to running out of feedstock feed·stock n. Raw material required for an industrial process. Noun 1. feedstock - the raw material that is required for some industrial process raw material, staple - material suitable for manufacture or use or finishing . Additionally, waves of harsh weather in several parts of the country curtailed scrap flows just as domestic mills were aggressively entering the market to obtain feedstock and as several large export orders were being filled. Some of those same circumstances existed in April, but not to the same extent as in March. Obsolete scrap flowed much better in early April in most parts of the country, although a late snowfall again disrupted some truck traffic. "The word on the street is out there and scrap of all types--ferrous and nonferrous--has been flowing in real well," says one Pennsylvania recycler. In the parts of the country where construction and demolition activity is more seasonal, April witnessed the start-up of a few more projects and job sites, which should help produce more scrap on that front. Industrial scrap flows remain problematic, say many recyclers. The automotive industry The automotive industry is the industry involved in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of motor vehicles. In 2006, more than 69 million motor vehicles, including cars and commercial vehicles were produced worldwide. remains tepid tep·id adj. 1. Moderately warm; lukewarm. 2. Lacking in emotional warmth or enthusiasm; halfhearted: "the tepid conservatism of the fifties" Irving Howe. and appliance manufacturing is similarly lukewarm luke·warm adj. 1. Mildly warm; tepid. 2. Lacking conviction or enthusiasm; indifferent: gave only lukewarm support to the incumbent candidate. because of the slower housing market. For ferrous scrap shippers, even in a month where prices dropped some $20 to $40 per ton, the challenges seem to remain on the supply side, as willing buyers from North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. and beyond remain very much in the market. (Additional news about ferrous scrap, including breaking news and consuming industry reports, is available online at www.RecyclingToday.com.) MSA/RMDAS[TM] MONTHLY FERROUS SCRAP PRICE INDEX RMDAS PRICING FALLS BACK After several months of upward momentum, shippers of ferrous scrap received less per ton for ferrous scrap in April compared to the month before. The price drops recorded by the RMDAS system were across all grades and regions, ranging from $19 to $46 per ton. Reported regional aggregated spot market prices per gross ton shown for each commodity are based on all Management Science Associates' (MSA) Raw Material Data Aggregation Service (RMDAS) participants' actual order data submitted to and processed by MSA as of the 20th of each respective "buy month," rounded to the whole integer integer: see number; number theory . A map of RMDAS regions is available at http://rmdas.msa.com, as is a further explanation of RMDAS methodology and an accompanying disclaimer. No. 2 Shredded shred n. 1. A long irregular strip that is cut or torn off. 2. A small amount; a particle: not a shred of evidence. tr.v. Scrap is defined as containing 0.17 percent or greater copper content. The Prompt Industrial Composite consists of an average of No. 1 bundles and No. 1 busheling. Additional pricing information on each grade can be found at www.RecyclingToday.com. [GRAPHIC OMITTED] [c] 2007 Management Science Associates Inc. All rights reserved RMDAS is a trademark of Management Science Associates Inc.
April 2007 RMDAS Ferrous Price Index
NORTH NORTH
TOTAL U.S. CENTRAL/EAST MIDWEST SOUTH
Prompt Industrial $349 $352 $335 $335
Composite
#1 HMS $285 $284 $295 $271
#2 Shredded Scrap $319 $326 $314 $306
#2 Shredded/Change -$37 -$31 -$41 -$46
vs. Month Before
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