The United States continues to be the largest global exporter of ferrous scrap, and its presence in the world market impacts domestic selling prices, according to panelists at AMM's Scrap and Raw Materials Conference in Charlotte.

"Export is dominant and is the largest single share of the marketplace. Six consumers in the export market accounted for 75 percent of the estimated U.S. scrap consumption in 2008," said David J. Hodory, director of marketing and communications at David J. Joseph Co., a wholly owned scrap subsidiary of Nucor Corp. "If you can load in a container you can get export pricing. If you don't think exports affect your prices, you must not live on the West Coast, the Southeast or other parts of the United States. It has a significant impact."

"World scrap (demand) has not changed dramatically, but in the U.S. we have seen a doubling (in demand) between 2004 and 2008," said Greg Quinton, vice president of ferrous...