How Much Can I Get For My Scrap Metal in Western Maryland?

Scrap Metal Prices Flat Most of 2009

I've not been posting to this blog lately because it's been depressing.

What used to be a lucrative part time entrepreneurial activity is now worth-less than it once was.

For my last post of 2009 I'll post a list of current scrap metal prices being paid around the world, in the US and near Frederick Maryland:

Google "scrap metal prices"

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Scrap Metal Prices

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Sell Scrap - Buy Scrap - Buyers - Resources

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www.recycleinme.com/ScrapResources/PriceHome.aspx - Cached - Similar

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How Much Can I Get For My Scrap?

Most scrap metal recycling centers shy away from publishing the current price on their websites, I'm guessing they don't update their own site, preferring to pay a web designer once. (they Should get in touch with me as I can set them up with a blog that allows them to update by simply sending an email, if you can send an email you can blog, but that's another topic/ blog unto itself)

However, ConservIt in Hagerstown Maryland does publish a price list of current prices paid, and to their credit it's online:

As of 12/30/2009 ConservIt's prices are as follows:

Metal Price lbs. 5' & Under P&S $7.50 100lbs

Alum Cans $0.45 1

Alum Condensor $0.37 1

Alum Cu Cond $1.00 1

Alum Siding $0.45 1

Alum Wheels $0.45 1

Bare Bright $2.40 1

Bronze $1.20 1

Bus $5.00 100

Car / Shred $5.50 100

Car Rims $6.00 100

Carbide Tips $0.10 1

Cars $5.50 100

Cast Alum $0.35 1

Catalytic Convertors $2.00 1

Catv Cable (BLK) $0.10 1

Catv Cable (WHT) $0.15 1

Clean Alum $0.35 1

Clean Motors $6.50 100

Copper #1 $2.30 1

Copper #2 $2.15 1

Diesel Radiators, CLN Truck $1.35 1

Dirty Motors (Gasoline) $5.50 100

EC Wire Clean $0.50 1

Electric Motor $0.14 1

Extruded Alum $0.50 1

Farm Machine $5.00 100

Heater Cores $1.10 1

Heavy Break $5.00 100

Irony Alum $0.08 1

Irony Diesel Radiators (Truck) $0.60 1

Lead $0.05 1

Light Copper $2.05 1

Litho Sheet $0.50 1

Mixed Alum $0.35 1

MLC $0.45 1

Old Sheet $0.35 1

Prep#1 $7.50 100

Prep#2 $0.00 100

Radiators $1.35 1

Random Rail $4.50 100

Red Brass $1.55 1

Shredder $5.50 100

Stainless $0.40 1

Truck $5.50 100

Unprep Struct $5.75 100

Unprep#1 $5.75 100

Yardcast $5.50 100

Yellow Brass $1.20 1

Zinc $0.25 1

ConservIt
18656 Leslie Drive
Hagerstown, MD 21740
(301) 416-7395
http://www.conservit.net/rates.asp

View Larger Map

Demand for Scrap Evaporated, slowly inching upwards

Drop In Chinese Demand Melts Scrap Metal Market

November 13, 2008 · Just months ago, scrap metal was in such high demand that thieves around the world were pulling up manhole covers, fire hydrants and even monuments to the dead to sell them. Driven by China's insatiable appetite, prices for scrap metal had skyrocketed. But now, the scrap metal industry has been hit hard by the global financial crisis — and scrap yards themselves could be facing the scrap heap.

Scrap Metal being sold to India: then... not now

http://www.export.gov/india/scrap.asp

The Indian metal industry is growing at a pace as fast as India’s industrial economy, offering one of the steepest returns in the Asia-Pacific region. The metal scrap recycling industry in India, is also growing at a rapid pace. As there is less domestic scrap generated then demand, India imports about half of the 1.2 million metric tons of scrap metal consumed annually in the country.

The United States is a major exporter of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap into India. According to the U.S. Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. (ISRI), the U.S. based scrap industry is a significant exporter of high quality scrap commodities to industrial consumers worldwide. Asia, and India in particular, is one of the fastest growing markets in the world for scrap metal. In 2005 (the latest year for which data is available), U.S. scrap exporters shipped more than $350 million of scrap commodities to India, including approximately $250 million of ferrous and nonferrous scrap. (see Market Demand below)

Though the opportunities in the Indian scrap sector are large, the industry is unorganized. Thus, U.S. companies are encouraged to be careful in all of their deals. Many Indian scrap importers are small and it is important for U.S. exporters to check the credentials of an Indian company. ISRI’s specifications should be used at all times to eliminate any possible discrepancies. To avoid disputes, U.S. exporters must insist on inspections before shipping the products. In addition, U.S. exporters must adhere to the Indian government regulations related to scrap metal exports including registration with India’s Director General of Foreign Trade. Disputes can be reduced by adhering to the critical aspects of procedures for exporting cargo (see Market Entry) of scrap containers to India.

From Dumpster Diving 4 Instant Cash

Prices paid for scrap aluminum cans here in Frederick Maryland up a nickle, from low of $.25 lb to $.30 lb.

Reader Input

A reader writes this:

Am I missing something? I have a medium sized range, three clothes washers,  a pellet stove (heavy sucker) and a couple commercial electric service  panels, and a five drawer lateral file cabinet. 

(I'm trying to make space in my evidence storage locker) 

If I am willing to give myself a hernia and  then re injure it 5 times loading this stuff on a truck, and I drive it 30  miles to a scrap dealer and he buys it, I could make back half of my truck  rental expense???? 

What is wrong with this picture? Why would you be in  this business, and is it true that the red Chinese are buying our scrap the same way our other friends did in the 1940's? 

Thanks in advance for sharing  your insight.

My response:

... yup, the days of profitably scraping light weight metals such as tin, junk appliances seem to be gone at least for the next year. When I did it full time back in 2004, 2005 prices were at a 6 year high according to the scrap dealers who were paying me.

I guess we'll have to wait for the economic recovery... which will come (unless the democrats screw things up by being too greedy with their income redistribution/ social engineering experiment). You know... demand rises constantly, it may be pent up demand but when the credit markets/ housing markets/ financial markets settle down and who ever has to take their well deserved lumps takes them... we will be back with a vengance.

Pent Up Demand

That's what got us out of the last depression.

Anything China needs makes us money

When I started this blog, before my father died of cancer in July 2005, at that time the price of scrap steel was at a 6 year high.

In China, El Nino or global warming had made the earth's climate dry where it used to be wet, and hot were it used to be cold, and cold where it used to be warm and so on.

The Yangtze River froze over, and China's booming industrial might was starved for iron ore and/ or scrap metal.

One out of 4 human beings is a Chinese.

Fast forward to 2008

Scrap prices are Double what they were in 2005

no duh

and I don't have a pick up truck right now (I do, but it doesn't have tags on it yet)

more coming soon... this is incredible, I promise...