Scrap tungsten prices have reportedly dropped from around $14.50-15 per pound to about $13 per pound in approximately a month.

There are a number of theories as to why this is happening. One business owner says that there are suspicions in the tungsten industry of hoarding. Another said it is likely that the big buyers are trying to force a price correction.

Kevin Anetsberger, General Manager of Midwest Tungsten Service, explained that a lot of what is going on right now are seasonal effects. 
 

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Mike Evans of AR Recycling explained that scrap tungsten prices per pound have hit a peak and business has fallen.
Those in the industry are hoping that the numbers will be stronger later this year, he says, specifically from September to December.

Others in the industry have also confirmed this claim of a slowdown. Frank Stanbach of Carbide Cutting Tools9 said that about a month ago the large scrap buyers just stopped buying.

To put things into perspective, he explained, that one company that he has done business with has millions of pounds of scrap on hand and it’s not moving because there are no buyers.

Stirling agreed that part of the problem right now is that buyers do not want to pay the current scrap  tungsten prices.
 

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For those experiencing these problems, buyers’ hesitation and their apparent bargaining power appears to make no sense given the overall tungsten market fundamentals. 

Certain principles are basic – supply shortages, current or forecasted – combined with growing demand drives up prices and limits consumers’ bargaining power. But, scrap dealers are seeing the exact opposite.

Joe Sery, CEO and Owner of Tungsten Heavy Powder, who said he has only heard of the slowdown from another dealer, confirmed that there are current shortfalls .

And that they will continue due to an increasing number of companies recycling scrap – another suggestion of a thriving industry.
 

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Bob Stirling of PM Recovery6 refers to tungsten scrap as “strange material.” By this, he means the business, not the actual metal. And he is not the only one to report bizarre behavior in this segment of the supply chain.

At a time when tungsten prices have soared, when the lead supplying nation is limiting exports, and analysts are predicting supply shortfalls.

 It may seem reasonable to assume that the scrap market would be booming in a country that classifies the metal as a strategic and critical material7 but has no active mines.

This, however, is not the case in the US, according to some players in the tungsten scrap and recycling industry.
 

Tungsten Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
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