Recycling, Scrap Metal, Commodities and Economic Report

This is the Recycling, Scrap Metal, Commodities and Economic Report, April 1st, 2024.

weekly tonnage of raw steel production

U.S. weekly raw steel production fell slightly to 1.7MT on slow U.S. manufacturing.

Crude Oil

WTI crude oil price rose to $83.12/b. on good demand and OPEC continued oil production cuts.

US Field Production of Crude Oil

U.S. weekly crude oil production was steady at 13.1Mb/d near the record high. The U.S. remains the #1 crude oil producer in the world. U.S. drillers won’t greatly increase production. If they do, the price and profits would fall.

Oil Rig Count

The U.S. weekly oil rig count fell to 506 on great productivity per well as production remains near the record.

AMM Weekly Heavy Melt

Scrap steel #1 HMS price was steady at $325/GT on a good balance of supply and demand. April could bring little or small change to the price. The steel company Cleveland Cliffs said this week that prime scrap will be in shorter supply at a higher cost for the rest of the decade.

Hot Roll Coil

Hot-roll coil steel price rose to $42.63/cwt., $853/T on the continued slow manufacturing economy.

Copper

Copper price rose to $4.01/lb., near a one year high. Growth of data centers and EVs is helping demand.

Aluminum

Aluminum price rose to $1.06/lb., $2,339/mt on good global demand.

U.S. February Pending Home Sales

U.S. February pending home sales fell 7% vs. last year. Bad news is good news. The government is trying to reduce spending, because reduced spending slows the economy, which reduces inflation which is the government’s goal.

China March NBS Manufacturing PM Index

China’s March NBS Manufacturing PM index rose to 50.8, the first growth in 6 months. New orders also increased for the first time in 6 months and foreign sales increased the first time in 11 months.

U.S. February PCE Personal Consumption Expenditure Index

U.S. February PCE Personal Consumption Expenditure index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation. It fell to 2.5%. Core inflation that leaves out volatile food and energy was up 2.8%. Prices are still high, but inflation is coming down slowly.

U.S. March U of M Consumer Sentiment Index

U.S. March U of M consumer sentiment index was revised higher to 79.4 the highest in almost 2.5 years. Current and future sentiment both rose and inflation expectations fell.

U.S. Q4 2023 Economic Growth GDP

U.S. Q4 2023 Economic growth GDP was revised higher to 3.4%, a very solid number. Consumer spending and nonresidential investment rose faster.

Dow Jones

Wall Street’s Dow Jones industrial average rose 311 points to 39,807 a new record close. Good U.S. growth, record jobs, record 401Ks and record home prices are driving the market.

BENLEE Parts

Roll off trailer parts, roll off truck parts are for sale at BENLEE. Galbreath, Galfab, Dragon, American Roll-off and more. Also, Pioneer, Roll-Rote, Aero, Donovan, U.S. Tarp tarping system and tarp parts. Rollers, tarps, arms, pins, fenders, and pulleys are in stock for same day shipment.

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This report by Greg Brown is brought to you by BENLEE roll off trailers, gondola trailers, crushed car trailers, lugger trucks, roll off trailer parts and roll off truck parts.

As always, feel free to call or email me with any questions and we hope all have a safe and profitable week.