Raw Materials Procurement Middle East and Balkans, Europe at Aurubis

News update from BALKANS, EUROPE on the recycling industry's main players

In the Balkans region, there are 2 major industrial players:

Aurubis and Viohalco, both are BMR members and 100% of non-ferrous and ferrous recycling industries are in their hands. Their portfolios of recycled scrap includes most of the non-ferrous and steel scrap.

Both operating well and in the last 2 months, it is noticeable that supply and offers are exceeding the demand. Also, there are few battery producers in the region, who are consuming refined Lead ingots and scrap.

It is important to clarify that export of non-ferrous scrap and steel scrap is max 10% of generated in the region and this is because local companies prefer to stay local. There are only few traders, who are concentrated in 1-2 items like brass scrap, that are not recycled locally.

News update from Turkey

Compared to the same period of the previous year until March, a decrease of 19.2 percent was observed in ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and 38.8 percent in steel. The government is rebuilding 11 affected cities but expensive energy and human resources (so many lives lost) remain as the main problems for our sector for now. The Government invites recyclers for the earthquake scrap but there are no certain policies / results on this yet.

News update from Hong Kong

After all restrictions finally lifted in March, most of Hong Kong's activities including international sport events, business conferences and exhibitions have gradually resumed.

While economic outlook is blurred due to prolonged high interest cost, extra downward pressure has intensified by slower domestic demand and weakened export growth affecting literally all business sectors, with no exemption can be expected for local metal recycling industry.

With increasing cross- boundary activities and relatively slow but stabilized growth in China being recorded, the overall sentiment on all sectors is notably improving. Yet, how robust is China's economic performance in the coming months will certainly have significant impact on the recovery of our economy as well as the local metal industry.