The recycling industry is stuck at the moment, needing something to push it one way or the other.
Prices were static once again this week for the vast majority of grades, and it seems everyone is waiting until after Easter now to see if anything may change. Perhaps some trades next week will set a direction for the post-Easter period, but something will need to budge the market to make it happen.
Even the PRN/PERN market isn’t moving much, and any minor changes don’t seem enough to make the physical market move.
With next week bringing the start of some school holidays and others extending two weeks beyond Easter, it could be trading volumes are subdued for a few weeks yet.
The pound was down a cent at $1.26 and €1.16 respectively when compared to last week.
Recycled plastics
Material is moving but nothing is moving the price at the moment.
Although the PRN/PERN price dropped a little again this week, it didn’t change the price of the physical packaging material.
Everything seems to be in equilibrium at the moment in terms of supply and demand and everyone is looking for indicators of what will eventually push prices up or down.
For now, many are enjoying a rare period of stability where everyone pretty much knows where they stand.
Recycled paper
There were no price movements to speak of this week, but there is an expectation that things will change when people start buying for April.
While there is talk of some Northern European mills being prepared to come back into the market with good prices, others, notably in Asia, are talking down their demand. It will be interesting to see which way the balance falls, or whether prices just stay the same again.
Easter is also expected to add to logistical problems with more drivers on holiday from a haulage perspective as well as mills being less prepared to take material domestically and in Europe. Of course, traders may be taking time off too.
It also remains the case that there isn’t a huge amount of material around, and some are hoping that Easter may bring people out shopping and give an indication of whether the public is still reluctant to spend or whether there is a bit more growth in the economy. If there is growth, it might lead to better availability of fibre for the rest of the year.
Recycled metals
Metals have seen some price rises in recent weeks, but seemed to catch the same stability that we’ve seen in plastics and paper. Only copper changed value, rising by £50 per tonne.
Recycling prices
For recycled paper prices, click here
For recycled plastic prices, click here
For recycled metal prices, click here
For recycled glass prices, click here
For PRN/PERN prices, click here
