Raw Materials Procurement
Middle East and Balkans, Europe at Aurubis
CMD Nihon Ispat Pvt Ltd
Alumnus of IIT, Kharagpur with Degree in Metallurgical Engineering
News update from BALKANS, EUROPE on the recycling industry's main players (manufacturers, traders, importers & exporters, stockists, agents, and machine makers etc.) – Updated 24/04/2023
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 - Updated 30/03/2023
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 North India
# Weak sale of Finished products in North – India marke
# Some Importers are in buying to continue their chain
News update from Hong Kong - Updated 28/4/2023
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.
News update from India – updated 09/06/2023
India to Regulate Metal Imports with Quality Control Orders
According to government officials, the final quality control orders for Aluminium, copper, and nickel are being prepared to reduce the import and sale of low-quality metals. The aim of this policy is to regulate the sale of these metals by enforcing compliance with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) rules. "We will notify the quality control orders as soon as possible," said a senior mining ministry official who preferred to remain anonymous.
They emphasized that all Aluminium, copper, and nickel sold in the country must meet minimum quality standards. In addition to this, the steel ministry has proposed implementing quality control measures for steel and steel products.
The government had released draft quality control orders in March and sought public feedback. The final notification will be issued after conducting consultations with stakeholders. Currently, approximately half of India's copper demand is met through imports, while the entire nickel demand is imported. Additionally, over 40% of Aluminium usage in the country is in the form of alloy scrap. The senior vice president of ICRA Limited expressed concerns about the proposed quality control order. They stated that it might lead to the elimination of sub-grade material imports, potentially causing a shortage of raw materials for downstream producers. This could result in increased product prices in the domestic market in the near term.
Mumbai, 09 June (Commodities control)
News update from India – Updated 16/06/2023
At Present we are facing problem of BIPARJOY CYCLONE at west cost which is affecting Mundra port mostly today and also Jamnagar city is close since yesterday due to heavy rain and storm which effect our production cycle. Ships being sent back to Mid sea to avoid damages to port. This could be delay of all new consignment of import and as well as export of goods thru Mundra Port.
At moment Mundra Port is dominating half of cargo movement after Nhavaseva Port.
Foreign Supplier Payment may get little bit delay due to this event, even though this time India payment are much more in time and effective going smooth due to low import quantities, since last 2 quarter import drop down in every sector due to disparity of import cost, one of the reasons is slow global demand and second GST BOGUS BILLING issue face by local trade.
Hopefully this quarter will give some small cushion if FED rate is not being change, and India Market will pick up after this Monsoon by this End of August.
Now a day Indian Bank landing are so easy in metal sector this is the right time to grow more in India, there is ample of opportunity for all existing company and new venture. Also, SME listing in capital market is also not difficulty anymore, which is company fall under MSME. which is also good move towards Indian Economy.
News update from INDIA on the Mines & Minerals Amendment Bill, keyplayers (manufacturers, traders, importers & exporters, stockists, agents,and machine makers etc.) – Updated 5/09/2023
Government has passes Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill. The amendment introduces Major Reforms in the Mining Sector with aFocus on Critical Minerals.
Tata Steel is powering its decarbonisation journey with a big bet on scrap. Because it can be recycled indefinitely without losing any ofits properties, steel is frequently referred to as the ideal "circular material." Tata Steel wants to use this quality of the metal as it strivesto green its operations in India by 2030. The company's motto appears to be "Tap the Scrap."
India has historically been a major importer of defence technology, but its exports reached a record high of Rs 15,920 crore in FY23.With a 4.1 million tonne (MT) installed smelting capacity, India's domestic aluminium industry should be able to easily meet demand.
Two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) pertaining to the promotion of local currencies for cross-border transactions and theconnection of the payment systems UPI with the UAE's Instant Payment Platform (IPP) have been signed by the Reserve Bank ofIndia and the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE).
India has designated 30 minerals as essential, including lithium, chromium, cobalt, and nickel. Pralhad Joshi, the minister for mining,referred to the list as "India's roadmap for 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat,'" a term borrowed from Sanskrit that means "self-reliance." Energyexperts praised both actions as positive steps in the right direction.
Adani's USD 1.1 bn copper project to start operations from Mar 2024. A greenfield copper refinery project is being set up by KutchCopper Ltd (KCL), a subsidiary of the group's flagship Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL), to produce refined copper at a rate of 1 milliontonnes per year in two phases.
The newly discovered lithium reserves and other minerals can now be mined by the government of India thanks to a law that wasapproved by the Indian Parliament. This will increase the mining of the vital raw material for the batteries used in electric vehicles.
According to CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge, the French railroad giant Alstom will use new aluminium technology for the Vande Bharatproject for the first time.
Given the government's emphasis on infrastructure development, ICRA forecasts that domestic aluminium demand growth will remainhealthy at around 9% over the next two fiscal years.
News update from the 11th BMR's International Conference, India's copper growth rate, Mumbai's rising demand for gold and silver – Updated 4/11/2023
The 11th BMR International Conference was held at the Hotel Grand Hyatt in Dubai. BMR President, Mr. Mir Mujtaba addressed the event attendees. He spoke about how the Middle East will soon become one of the major recycling hubs in the world and also touched pon de-globalization. Mr. MIR as the president started and requested all the delegates and companies to use the word Recyclable Material instead of scrap or waste and that went down very well with the audience.
The Ambassadors had a very fruitful meeting and everyone looked at India as the next destination as the main business partner.
It was attended by the following Ambassadors -Mr. Monir Al Sharif, Vice President, BMR, Mr. Sanjeev Phadke, Mr. Ahmed Abboud, - Mr. Shahzad Shroff, Mr. Sudhir Aggarwal, Mr Takeshi Murayama, Ms. Christian Chow, Mr. Purushottam Parolia, Mr. Deniz Unluserefoglu, Mr. Arham Sethi, Mr. Suneel R. Mardia, Mr. Dieter Kroll, Mr. Jitendra H. Chopra.
A significant Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Japan to facilitate recycling as well as trade between the two countries.
The International Copper Association India has published its annual research on the copper demand and supply. Copper demand is said to have grown by 16% year on year in 2023.
A proud moment for Indian industry members as Mr. Sudhir Aggarwal, the President of IICA has been appointed as the BIR Ambassadors' Chairman. Previously this seat was held by the current BIR President, Susie Burrage OBE.
The global demand for metals are slowing down while there is a rise in output specifically in China and Indonesia. This year, there will be a surplus of metals but next year this will exceed even those in the crisis years, e.g., 2008 and 2020.
Mumbai's gold prices jumped by more than 1% as world markets became more uneasy due to the unstable scenario in West Asia. The Demand for gold, an asset considered a safe haven, has surged due to concerns about inflation rising sharply. Due to silver's uses in industry and qualities as a valuable metal, its values have also increased.
The International Copper Study Group (ICSG) released preliminary data for May world copper supply and demand in its July 2023 Copper Bulletin. Preliminary data indicates that world refined copper production increased by about 8% in the first five months of 2023 with primary production (electrolytic and electrowinning from ores) up by about 7% and secondary production (from scrap) up by 11%.
India is leading the way in addressing climate change and sustainability. It is a cause for great pride that India is now ranked eighth out of the G20 countries in the Climate Change Performance Index, above even the UK (ranked eleventh) and Germany (ranked thirteenth).
Conflict Between Primary and Secondary Producers of Copper and Aluminium in India Regarding Scrap Imports – Updated on 16/11/2024
Overview - In India, there is a notable divide between primary producers of copper and aluminium, who advocate for the disallowance of scrap imports, and secondary producers, who support the importation of scrap materials. This situation highlights differing interests and perspectives within the metal industry.
Primary Producers' Perspective:
Quality Concerns: Primary producers emphasize the potential quality issues associated with imported scrap. They argue that domestic scrap is often of higher quality and more reliable for production processes.
Economic Protectionism: They seek to protect their market share from what they perceive as unfair competition from cheaper imported scrap. This is driven by the fear that an influx of scrap imports could lead to reduced prices and harm their profitability.
Encouraging Local Recycling: By disallowing scrap imports, primary producers aim to promote local recycling initiatives, which can help create jobs and reduce environmental impact.
Investment in Domestic Production: They argue that restricting imports would encourage investment in domestic production facilities, leading to a more robust and self-sufficient industry.
Secondary Producers' Perspective:
Cost Efficiency: Secondary producers often rely on scrap as a primary raw material. They advocate for imports to ensure a steady and cost-effective supply, which is crucial for their operations.
Market Demand: The secondary market benefits from the availability of cheaper scrap materials, which can help them meet the growing demand for recycled metals without significantly increasing costs.
Flexibility in Sourcing: Allowing scrap imports provides secondary producers with greater flexibility in sourcing materials, enabling them to adapt to market fluctuations and maintain competitive pricing.
Contribution to Sustainability: Secondary producers argue that importing scrap can enhance the overall recycling rate in India, as it allows for the processing of materials that might otherwise go to waste.
Conclusion: The conflict between primary and secondary producers in India's copper and aluminium industry regarding scrap imports reflects broader themes of competition, quality, economic strategy, and sustainability. Balancing these interests is crucial for the future of the Indian metal industry, and potential policy solutions may need to consider the needs and concerns of both sides to foster a harmonious and productive environment.
Advantages of Non-Ferrous Metal Scrap Imports into India
Cost-Effectiveness: Importing non-ferrous metal scrap can be more economical than sourcing raw materials. This helps secondary producers reduce production costs and maintain competitive pricing.
Sufficient Supply: Scrap imports ensure a steady and reliable supply of raw materials, which is essential for industries that depend on recycling processes to meet demand.
Quality of Materials: Non-ferrous scrap often comes from diverse sources, allowing manufacturers to select high-quality materials that meet specific production needs.
Sustainability: Importing scrap contributes to environmental sustainability by promoting recycling and reducing the need for mining new metals, which can be ecologically damaging.
Enhanced Recycling Rates: Increased availability of scrap can lead to higher recycling rates, helping India move towards a more circular economy and reducing waste.
Job Creation: The import and processing of scrap can create jobs in the recycling and manufacturing sectors, contributing to economic growth.
Market Competitiveness: Access to imported scrap can help secondary producers compete more effectively in both domestic and international markets by providing them with the necessary materials at lower costs.
Technological Advancements: The demand for processing imported scrap can drive technological innovations in recycling techniques, improving efficiency and output quality.
Diverse Material Options: Imports provide access to a variety of non-ferrous metals, including copper, aluminum, and zinc, enabling manufacturers to diversify their product offerings.
Balance of Trade: Importing scrap can help balance trade deficits in raw materials by utilizing domestic recycling capabilities, ultimately benefiting the economy.
These advantages highlight the potential benefits of allowing non-ferrous metal scrap imports into India, particularly for the secondary metal industry and the broader economy.