Germany

According to a survey, 78% of German companies are being directly or indirectly affected by the situation in Ukraine through higher energy prices, disrupted supply chains and lost customers.

Feedback from industry is particularly alarming, said the DIHK (Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce), as 91% of companies stated that they were feeling the effects of the conflict - 33% directly and another 58% indirectly. Three-quarters of industrial companies had experienced disruption to supply chains and logistics while almost 90% lacked raw materials and preliminary work.

As for recycling, it can be seen that the market is increasingly decoupling itself from old price mechanisms such as the LME. Producers are experiencing not only higher energy costs but also an unpredictable sales situation. It is therefore difficult to find price indications using the LME, which previously served as the basis for all metals. Prices are very fast-moving and yesterday’s quotes are no longer relevant today. Therefore, it makes no sense even to come close to communicating the increased aluminium block 226 prices because, by the time this report is published, they will already be history.

All in all, it can be said that scrap is very short and that good qualities in particular are desperately sought after. This scarcity appears set to persist in the second quarter too.