SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: March 3-7, 2025

March 07, 2025

Trump’s Tariffs Drive U.S. Physical Market Aluminium Premiums to Record High

Price premiums for aluminium on the physical market in the United States have surged to a record high due to the looming threat of tariffs on imports of the metal used in the transport, construction and packaging industries. U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to restore 25% tariffs on aluminium imports from March 12. Tariffs on most imports from Mexico and Canada took effect on Tuesday. Buyers on the physical market usually pay the London Metal Exchange benchmark aluminium price plus a premium which typically covers taxes, transport and handling costs. (Reuters)

Gold Eases as Treasury Yields Climb, Eyes on U.S. Jobs Data

Gold prices dipped on Thursday due to rising U.S. Treasury yields and profit-taking, while market attention turned to Friday’s payrolls data for insights into the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy move. Spot gold fell 0.1% to $2,915.83 an ounce as of 01:49 p.m. ET (1849 GMT), after rising in the last three sessions. U.S. gold futures settled largely unchanged at $2,926.6. (Reuters)

Yellow Metal Falls Below ₹86,000 per 10 Grams; Silver Price Slips Below ₹98,000 on MCX

Gold prices on Multi Commodity Exchanges of India (MCX) opened lower on Friday, tracking losses in international bullion prices. MCX gold rate opened lower by ₹294, or 0.34%, at ₹85,740 per 10 grams as against previous close of ₹86,034. MCX silver prices also traded lower by ₹332.00, or 0.34%, at ₹97,809 per kg. Silver prices opened at ₹97,956 as against previous close of ₹98,141 level. International gold prices fell, but were on track for a weekly rise as uncertainty around the US President Donald Trump’s tariff plans firmed demand for bullion. Spot gold declined 0.3% to $2,900.48 an ounce. Bullion has gained 1.6% so far this week. US gold futures fell 0.6% to $2,908.70. Meanwhile, investors will watch out for the US non-farm payrolls data later in the day, which is expected to influence the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision. (Mint)

DS Smith Study Reveals Majority of U.S. Consumers Want Sustainable, Intelligent Packaging

DS Smith, a leading fiber-based packaging manufacturer, which was acquired by International Paper in 2025, found through its Unboxing Consumer Preferences on Sustainable Packaging survey of 1,048 U.S. adults reveals that sustainability is the most important factor in shipping packaging. Consumers expect retailers to communicate their sustainability efforts and reduce waste in stores and e-commerce. Key preferences include minimizing empty space in packages, using eco-friendly stuffing materials, and adopting intelligent packaging. Additionally, consumers are also interested in packaging with QR codes offering discounts and sustainability info. (DS Smith)

Reclaim Project Debuts Portable AI-powered Robotic Material Recovery Plant

The Reclaim project has introduced a low-cost, portable, AI-powered robotic material recovery plant to tackle waste management challenges in remote areas or regions with fluctuating waste generation. According to Spain’s AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, the technology will first be deployed in the Greek Islands, addressing the difficulty of justifying large-scale infrastructure development in these areas. AIMPLAS said the Reclaim project employs multiple robots equipped with different types of pickers to efficiently collect and handle various waste materials based on their composition. Additionally, AI-powered computer vision enables accurate waste identification, enhancing the robots’ sorting efficiency. Integrated into a portable container, these technologies are designed to improve material recovery on a local scale. (Plastics Today)

Evertis to Construct $100m Pet Film Plant in U.S.

Evertis, a supplier of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film for the food industry, plans to build a new $100m production plant in Columbia in the US state of South Carolina. The facility will be operational by the second quarter (Q2) of 2026, with the first commercial sales to customers expected later the same year. The initial phase of the expansion will add 30,000t of capacity to the North American packaging market. The move is expected to yield significant benefits across the local value chain, with further expansion in the pipeline. In the second quarter of 2028, Evertis plans to launch a second phase of development, which will increase production capacity by an additional 30,000t. The project will create more than 100 full-time jobs in the region. (Yahoo Finance)

LME Updates Trading Rules Before Platform Launch on March 24

The London Metal Exchange (LME) has revealed updates to its electronic trading policies in preparation for the launch of its new platform, “LMEselect v10,” set to go live on March 24. Owned by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd., the LME stated on its website that the new platform is designed to improve its electronic markets and better meet the needs of both physical metals and financial trading sectors. The updates, shared in an LME notice on Monday, focus on introducing new features to the platform and improving the clarity of existing documentation. (LME)

Reworld™ Expands Sustainable Waste Solutions in the Eastern United States with the Acquisition of R.E.D. Technologies and REDTECH Rail

Reworld™ announces the acquisition of R.E.D. Technologies, LLC (“REDTECH”), a privately held profiled waste and field remediation company located in Portland, Connecticut. This acquisition strengthens the operational and logistics capabilities of Reworld™ across the Northeastern United States. REDTECH operates a state-of-the-art profiled waste transfer station with on-site rail transloading capabilities strategically positioned to serve both the public and private sectors. The company handles over 300,000 tons of material annually, including contaminated soils, asbestos, PCBs and containerized hazardous and non-hazardous waste streams. This transaction provides Reworld™ with enhanced capabilities in hazardous and non-hazardous waste logistics, supported by REDTECH's fleet of 36 railcars and 100+ vehicles and pieces of equipment. (Reworld™)

BGL Announces the Sale of GFL’s Environmental Services Business Valued at $8 Billion

Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) announced that GFL Environmental Inc. has sold its Environmental Services business to Apollo and BC Partners for $8 billion. GFL will retain a 44% stake, with Apollo and BC Partners each holding 28%. BGL’s Environmental investment banking team served as GFL’s financial advisor in the transaction. BGL’s Environmental Services & Infrastructure team has been ranked #1 in Environmental Services transaction volume in North America since 2016 according to Pitchbook.com, focusing on businesses that perform essential services to the waste processing & disposal, water & wastewater treatment, waste-to-value, and waste-to-energy markets. (BGL)

Aqua Metals Achieves Major Milestone in Recycled Battery Materials: First U.S.-Sourced Nickel Integrated into Domestic CAM for Testing

Aqua Metals Inc. has partnered with industry players to produce what it claims to be the first-ever cathode active material (CAM) made entirely from 100% recycled nickel sourced domestically. This achievement represents a critical step toward establishing a cleaner, more secure domestic battery supply chain in the U.S. Using its proprietary AquaRefining™ process, Aqua Metals recovered high-purity nickel from spent lithium-ion batteries and battery manufacturing scrap. Aqua Metals refined that recycled nickel into battery-grade nickel nitrate, a key precursor in advanced cathode production. One of Aqua Metals’ domestic CAM manufacturing partners then utilized an innovative, low-carbon process to convert the nickel nitrate material into battery-grade CAM. This CAM is currently undergoing evaluation by a tier-one lithium battery manufacturer under established qualification protocols, and initial testing was positive and the samples are progressing through the validation process. (Aqua Metals)

Ma’aden’s Full-Year Net Profit Jumps 82%

Saudi Arabian Mining Company, known as Ma’aden, on Thursday reported 2024 net profit up 82% year on year at 2.87 billion riyals ($765.2 million). Chief executive Bob Wilt attributed the results to “record production” and the company’s second-highest full-year revenue. Ma’aden, which operates in gold, aluminum and phosphates, is a key pillar in Saudi Arabia’s plan to diversify its economy away from hydrocarbons and is looking to expand mining capabilities in those commodities. (KITCO News)

Rio Tinto to Invest $1.8 Billion to Develop Brockman Mine Extension in Western Australia’s Pilbara

Rio Tinto will invest $1.8 billion to develop the Brockman Syncline 1 mine project (BS1), extending the life of the Brockman region in the West Pilbara of Western Australia and sustaining production from the company’s world class iron ore operations. The project has now received all necessary State and Federal Government approvals and has been developed in consultation with the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) Traditional Owners and the Muntulgura Guruma Traditional Owners. (Rio Tinto)

Canada Will Extend the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit for an Additional Two Years

On March 3, 2025, Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs, that the federal government proposes to extend the 15 per cent Mineral Exploration Tax Credit for investors in flow-through shares for an additional two years, until March 31, 2027. The Mineral Exploration Tax Credit, which was scheduled to expire on March 31, 2025, provides important support to junior mineral exploration companies working to unlock Canada’s tremendous mineral wealth, creating jobs, and growing the economy. This extension is expected to provide $110 million to support mineral exploration investment. (Department of Finance Canada)

Plastics Industry Association Shares Concern About Tariffs, Urges Trade Policies That Strengthen U.S. Manufacturing

PLASTICS President and CEO Matt Seaholm expressed concern over the Trump Administration’s tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, highlighting their potential negative impact on U.S. plastics manufacturing and jobs. While supporting national security measures, Seaholm emphasized that tariffs disrupt supply chains and hinder American manufacturers in sectors like healthcare, consumer products, and automotive. He urged for balanced trade policies that strengthen U.S. competitiveness, reinforce supply chains, and support innovation. In 2023, U.S. plastics exports exceeded imports, demonstrating the industry’s global leadership. However, new tariffs threaten this advantage, potentially increasing costs and weakening the industry’s position. (Plastics Industry Association)

AF&PA Responds to 25% Tariffs on Canada and Mexico

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) expressed concerns about the impact of President Trump’s 25% tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico. AF&PA highlighted that these tariffs could disrupt the paper industry’s complex, cross-border supply chains, which rely on raw materials from Canada and Mexico. The industry, which employs over 925,000 people, depends on efficient manufacturing processes across both borders. AF&PA urged continued discussions with the Administration to minimize disruptions to U.S. pulp, paper, and packaging manufacturing. (American Forest & Paper Association)

Indonesia Issues New Rule Allowing Mineral Exports in Force Majeure Cases

The Indonesian government has issued a regulation allowing mineral companies to export unprocessed ore in force majeure situations, the energy ministry said on Thursday. Indonesia banned exports of raw minerals in 2023 to encourage metals processing at home, but has made some exemptions, including to miner PT Freeport Indonesia, which was granted a permit last year to export copper concentrate until repairs at its Manyar smelter are completed. (Reuters)

India’s Small Exporters Seek Import Duty Cuts to Counter U.S. Steel, Aluminium Tariffs

India’s small engineering goods exporters have urged the government to cut import tariffs on some U.S. goods to try and achieve more favourable trade terms as President Donald Trump prepares to implement new steel and aluminium duties, the head of an industry body said. The 25% U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, effective March 12, have raised Indian exporters’ concerns about declining orders and rising costs. (Reuters)