The value of wholesale sales by scrap metal dealers in the Mexican domestic market decreased 22.8 percent, year-over-year, in real terms in March. It is the ninth straight drop, according to a SteelOrbis analysis of data from national statistics agency Inegi.
The decrease in the annual comparison in the sale of metal scrap in the Mexican market began in July 2022, causing the number of employed personnel to decrease since October of last year. In March it decreased 0.6 percent.
The information from Inegi corresponds to the trade with wholesale sales of waste materials, which includes the sale of metal scrap, glass, plastic, paper and cardboard, among other reusable waste. The 22.8 percent drop in sales corresponds to total activities.
Although the review carried out by SteelOrbis of the most current statistics (2018) that break down the commercial activity of the scrap companies analyzed by the Inegi, show that metal scrap concentrated 68.4 percent of the total sales of said industry. In 2018, there were around 10,700 businesses engaged in the wholesale of scrap metal.
Currently, the kilogram of metal scrap in retail recycling centers in some parts of Mexico City is paid at MXN 6.0 per kilogram, which is equivalent to $331/mt. These retail centers sell the product to the wholesale centers that are measured by Inegi.