Export watch

By Editorial Staff, Resource Recycling

The volume of plastic scrap exported in September, at 450.928 million pounds, was down 7.46 percent from its August figure. When matched against its August 2010 position, however, the volume of exports increased by 7.7 percent.

The weighted price of recovered plastic exports in September, at 24.25 cents per pound, was up 6.88 percent from its August standing. Too, when compared to its September 2010 standing, the price increased by robust 30.8 percent.

Through the first three quarters of 2011, at 3.57 billion pounds, the volume of recovered plastics exported was up 9.1 percent from its 2010 year-to-date (YTD) figure. Also, at 22.11 cents per pound, the average price through September was up 15.7 percent from the first three quarters of 2010.

As for other exported materials, recovered paper exports, through Q3 2011, experienced a 14.2 percent year-over-year (YOY) increase, to 15.78 million metric tons. And, at $179 per metric ton, the weighted average price of exported recovered paper through September was up 4.1 percent when compared to the first three quarters of 2010.

Addressing ferrous scrap, the 17.26 million metric tons exported through the first three quarters of 2011 resulted in a 9.6 percent YOY increase. And, at $469 per metric ton, the weighted average price of exported ferrous scrap was up 66.9 percent over Q3 2010 levels.

Lastly, the 3.53 billion pounds of aluminum scrap exported through September 2011equated to a 12.9 percent YOY increase. And, at 88 cents per pound, the average price of exported aluminum scrap through August was up 18.9 percent when compared to its September 2010 standing.

To return to the Resource Recycling newsletter, click here.