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I went to the store yesterday and new signs posted by the beer and soda. It stated due to a national aluminium shortage certain types and flavored can beverages may not be in stock. Wtf. More bs....

Scrap aluminum prices going up then?

TXSTARFIRE wrote:Scrap aluminum prices going up then?

i hope so as i havent sold anything other than steel for maybe 2 years, probably have 2500 of sheet clean aluminum

I read about shortages in both San Diego and Houston.

One thing a bit strange about aluminum cans is this. They have a small surface area and if you pick one up that was recently touched by someone with the virus, that would likely pose a problem. I have recycled other items, but the cans are a potential problem for now IMHO.

today here in Houston 30 cents a pound for cans....lets see $1.30 pound! I am covered up in them.

prices at the scrap yard have been cut in half in the last year from .40 per lb down to .20 cents

from April 22 2020 Seattle times
[b]Alcoa to shut Ferndale smelter, throwing 700 out of work[/b]

"The country now only has five smelters remaining and all of them are losing money. Forecasts have been bearish, with supply of aluminum far outpacing demand"

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/l ... t-of-work/

I thought I read somewhere there closing a place in NY or Michigan but I couldn't find the story.

This is a strange occurrence. Normally prices go up (not down) when there are shortages. It is hard to explain, except that I never thought I’d see barrels of oil and interest rates both below zero in my lifetime. This is indeed the Bizarro World (Seinfeld reference).

Accidental dupe- sorry.

Another thought- if you think the shortage will last a while, you might stock up on aluminum foil. That would make an interesting barter item for a SHTF situation.

Recyclersteve wrote:Another thought- if you think the shortage will last a while, you might stock up on aluminum foil. That would make an interesting barter item for a SHTF situation.

In my opinion if there is an item that you use on a regular basis you should have a spare (or 2) on hand. Especially after all of this.

There isn't a shortage of aluminum, it is a shortage of cans.

There was no paper pulp shortage, but there sure was a toilet paper shortage.

Same idea. People's buying habits have changed.