Market research firm Gartner noted that in the first quarter of 2020 shipments of new PCs around the world declined by 12.3% year over year. | N.Z.Photography/Shutterstock
The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted worldwide supply and demand for new PCs, bringing both bad and good news for computer recyclers and refurbishers, according to Gartner.
In the midst of coronavirus-related closures, ITAD companies are reporting decreases of up to 75% in the flow of used IT equipment from corporate accounts and other organizations. | Zhuravlev Andrey/Shutterstock
At enterprises across North America, IT asset refresh projects are no longer a top priority. That has meant major volume drops for material processors, as well as painful staffing cuts in some cases.
Because of business and public drop-off site closures and public anxiety about virus transmission, e-scrap collections are down across North America. | Dan Leif/ Resource Recycling, Inc.
The coronavirus pandemic has led to major reductions in the collection of used consumer electronics across North America, with some e-scrap companies reporting volume drops up to 80%.
Business shutdowns and work-from-home orders around North America have made it difficult for many ITAD and e-scrap recycling companies to obtain material for processing. | Oleksandr Berezko/Shutterstock
A number of ITAD companies will fail, but those strong enough to survive coronavirus-related revenue losses will encounter post-pandemic advantages, an ITAD market analyst predicts.
ITAD company EPC reported a sharp increase in demand for notebook, tablet and desktop PCs throughout the U.S. and Canada as the need to work from home grows. | Sally B/Shutterstock
Processors across the U.S. say the coronavirus and resulting work-from-home orders have energized the market for refurbished electronics. In some cases, they can’t keep up with the needs of customers.
E-scrap processors report coronavirus-driven disruptions both with vendors and customers. | joshimerbin/Shutterstock
The global escalation of COVID-19 is causing supplier and customer disruption for e-scrap processors, while on a wider scale it constrains global shipping, dents stock prices and threatens an economic recession.
Business challenges related to the wider market are likely to pop up again and again in the coming months. | Poring Studio/Shutterstock
Sims Lifecycle Services says it’s on track to hit its goal of recycling 20,000 metric tons of cloud computing equipment between July 2019 and June 2020. | Mikhail Starodubov/Shutterstock
Growth in data center recycling, higher gold prices and more selective buying all boosted earnings for Sims Lifecycle Services during the second half of 2019.
Umicore noted China’s restrictions on scrap material imports helped ensure an ample supply of scrap PCBs. | Iryna Imago/Shutterstock
Umicore enjoyed greater profits last year thanks in part to higher metals prices and China’s e-scrap imports crackdown, which increased the global supply of circuit board scrap.
