USM, Inc.

USM provides all equipment needed for collecting, storing and shipping your recyclables. #TheUSMWay!

Steel: Demand is still sluggish with some domestic mills lowering their product prices to move inventory. European and Asian mills are seeing the same weakened demand and trying to find new export markets. Despite this, Prime scrap grades were able to remain stable this month with cut grades getting a soft dip on prices. Non-ferrous: Copper hit a two-year high late April boosted by Australian Resources’ group BHP’s bid to acquire UK-South African mining firm Anglo-American in a deal that would forge the world’s largest copper producer. The market’s increased reaction led supporters to believe that copper is poised for strong long-term price growth. However, in the past two-weeks some demand as waned leading to a small market decrease, but still at levels higher than April’s average. Aluminum mill and secondary smelter grades stabilized over the past week after a few weeks of increases. We’re seeing the supply and demand situation for scrap leveling out now for most aluminum alloys. However, there is still a tight UBC market keeping the prices at one of the highest points of this year. Overall, it seems like a mixed picture with some metals holding steady or even showing promise, while others face challenges and potential price fluctuations.  Keeping a close eye on market dynamics and geopolitical events will likely be crucial for navigating these uncertainties. #TheUSMWay!

USM wishes every Mother a Happy Mother’s Day! #TheUSMWay!

USM was happy to once again be a sponsor of the Hesed House's of the 2024 Annual Derby. We are glad that our guests had a wonderful time at the event. The Hesed House is a shelter that provides food and clothing to people. For more information about the Hesed House click here: https://lnkd.in/gZtvzH9F #TheUSMWay!

Delivering a roll off box to another new customer. We appreciate the confidence that our partners' have in our company to provide exceptional recycling services. #TheUSMWay!

Finishing off Earth Month strong with a community electronic recycling collection. USMe provides collection events throughout Illinois. #TheUSMWay!

Our new lugger truck is ready to roll and assist with your recycling needs. #TheUSMWay!

USM wishes you all a Happy Earth Day! #TheUSMWay!

1. Safely prep the batteries. There are two options: bag or tape. Bag each battery in its own clear plastic bag before placing it in a storage container. Tape the terminals with clear packing, non-conductive electrical or duct tape, keeping the label visible. Since batteries that appear dead may contain a residual charge, they can pose a fire hazard unless they are bagged or taped. 2. Store the batteries in a cool, dry place. Incidents can occur when batteries—or the devices they power, such as a cellphone or tablet—are exposed to inclement or excessively hot weather. Store them in a plastic container; avoid metal. 3. If you see a swollen or bulging battery, immediately put it in non-flammable material, such as sand or kitty litter, and store it in a cool, dry place. Do not throw it away. 4. Aim to drop batteries to recycle within six months, ensuring they are bagged or taped. For more information on battery and electronic recycling, please visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gGpSxxks #TheUSMWay!

Steel: After 2 months of price drops, The mills settled with sideways deals across the board and quickly. While consumer business demand hasn’t increased much, some mills have been running lean and needed to replenish. Some sellers believe the market may be near bottom and are expecting May increases. Non-ferrous: After a few months of relatively stable and slowly fluctuating copper prices, we’ve seen a significant increase over the past week. Some copper consumers are seeing “extremely high demand” in the US and Europe resulting in the more aggressive market. Aluminum premiums in the US continued to increased by almost 40% since the beginning of the year based on tightening supply globally. Aluminum demand is down from last year at this time. However, aluminum consumers were conservate on earlier buys this year and ready to increase their stock believing we’re approaching their traditional peak season. Stainless and Alloy: The nickel market experienced a significant downturn in March, with LME Nickel trading down 10%.  However, it has shown signs of recovery, reaching near 30-day high range at the beginning of April.  Despite this rebound, the prices of stainless steel grades 304 and 316 have been pushed down due to a combination of factors including mill demand and overproduction in global nickel supply, particularly from Indonesia. _Analysts predict a substantial increase in nickel production from 1.7Mt in 2024 to 3.8Mt by 2033, with Indonesia and China being the predominant contributors.  Additionally, mill strikes in Finland and Spain have exacerbated the surplus in inventories for the time being._ Chrome stainless grades have also seen a decline at the start of the month, while VAC alloys are experiencing further decreases due to muted demand.  On the other hand, titanium prices have remained steady with growing demand, suggesting potential increases in the near future. Tool steel and high-speed steel prices have remained steady for now, while carbide pricing has stayed flat with expectations for a rise in values in the near term. #TheUSMWay!