Due primarily to seasonal market conditions, the UBC market is more heated than that for virgin metal or other forms of scrap metal. As a result, UBC prices have moved to their highest level since May 2001. Pricing for aluminum cans has tagged up slightly. While some of the upward movement it explained by a small rise in virgin aluminum pricing on the commodity exchanges, a better reason is the need by some melters for more UBCs. Major suppliers report that Anheuser-Busch Recycling (St. Louis) and Wise Metals (Baltimore) have taken aggressive market positions in recent weeks, with some other buyers unwilling to meet their prices on every occasion. With UBC prices up nearly two cents per pound in the past six weeks, the spread between UBC and prime metal is getting thinner.
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