The always cyclical prices of scrap metals have spiraled down for more than a year to their 23-year nadir for a variety of global economic reasons.
The lower prices have led some salvage yards and even farmers who supply scrap materials to hang on longer to junked autos and used appliances, waiting for a better deal. That’s caused a sharp reduction in volume for the companies that buy scrap and reprocess it back to usable metals for industry.
But a local expert with Pacific Steel and Recycling is cautiously hopeful that scrap prices will begin edging slowly back this year as national and global economies improve.
Generally speaking, the prices for such scrap metal as light gauge steel and tin found in car bodies, appliances and used farm equipment as well as for scrap copper, aluminum and brass have dropped about 65 percent since late 2014, resulting in a 50 to 55 percent reduction in the amount of scrap metal sold to Pacific Steel and Recycling and other companies in the industry, said Patrick Kons, vice president of scrap operations for Pacific, which is headquartered in Great Falls and has branches in nine western states.
Source: GreatFalls