Export watch

Export watch

By Editorial Staff, Resource Recycling

The volume of plastic scrap exported in August, at 450.93 million pounds, was up 2.35 percent from the July figure. When matched against its August 2010 position, the volume of exports increased by a solid 17.8 percent.

The weighted price of recovered plastic exports in August, at 22.69 cents per pound, was up 2.76 percent from its July standing. Too, when compared to its August 2010 standing, the price increased by robust 30.2 percent.

Through the first eight months of 2011, at 3.15 billion pounds, the volume of recovered plastics exported was up 9.3 percent from its 2010 year-to-date (YTD) figure. Also, at 21.83 cents per pound, the average price through August was up 13.8 percent from its 2010 YTD standing.

As for other exported materials, recovered paper exports, through August 2011, experienced a 14.2 percent year-over-year (YOY) increase, to 14.10 million metric tons. And, at $180 per metric ton, the weighted average price of exported recovered paper through August was up 5.3 percent when compared to the first eight months of 2010.

Addressing ferrous scrap, the 16.84 million metric tons exported through August resulted in a 10.5 percent YOY increase. And, at $467 per metric ton, the weighted average price of exported ferrous scrap was up 68.8 percent.

Lastly, the 3.12 billion pounds of aluminum scrap exported through August 2011equated to a 12.8 percent YOY increase. And, at 87 cents per pound, the average price of exported aluminum scrap through August was up 17.6 percent when compared to its August 2010 standing.

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