SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: May 12-16, 2025

May 16, 2025

Gold (XAUUSD) & Silver Price Forecast: Fed Bets and Trade Truce Weigh on Demand

Gold (XAU/USD) slipped to $3,206 in early Friday trading, unable to recover from recent declines triggered by a shift in global market sentiment. The announcement of a 90-day trade truce between the U.S. and China has significantly reduced short-term trade friction, removing a key driver of safe-haven demand. In response, investors have rotated toward risk assets, leaving gold under modest pressure. Silver (XAG/USD) followed suit, trading near $32.46, also weighed by waning risk aversion. However, silver’s industrial use and broader demand outlook continue to provide a degree of price support. (Source: FXEmpire)

Suppliers Fear Copper Prices Will Fall, Actively Selling Inventory

SMM News on May 16: This week, copper prices experienced a trend of rising first and then falling, with an overall increase of 700 yuan/mt. The price of bare bright copper in Guangdong only rose by 200 yuan/mt. According to SMM, at the beginning of the week, some suppliers of secondary copper raw materials, concerned about the long-term fluctuating trend of copper prices, chose to sell at the price peak. However, traders of secondary copper raw materials did not increase their shipments as a result. Due to the previous supply shortage leading to high prices, they were unwilling to sell in large quantities at this time to avoid being driven down on prices by downstream buyers. As the weekend approached, the easing of Sino-US trade relations pushed copper prices up, prompting traders of secondary copper raw materials to stand firm on quotes and sell. However, copper prices significantly corrected on Friday, causing panic selling among traders of secondary copper raw materials. (Source: SMM)

Gold Price Peak ‘Might Be In,’ BofA’s Blanch Says

Bank of America’s head of global commodities Francisco Blanch discusses the outlook for gold prices as the precious metal extended its decline on easing trade tensions. “We still like gold in the long run, but we have a $3500 per ounce target and we believe for now the peak might be in,” he tells Bloomberg Television. (Source: Bloomberg)

ArcelorMittal Confirms Its Intention to Invest in the Decarbonization of Its Dunkirk Plant
Global steel company ArcelorMittal has reaffirmed its commitment to decarbonize its industrial facilities in France. The company is working closely with the French government, which plays a key role in protecting the steel industry not only in France but across Europe. This is stated in the company’s press release. The steel industry is currently experiencing the deepest crisis since the financial crisis of 2009. That is why ArcelorMittal decided to postpone the implementation of a number of decarbonization projects in Europe a few months ago. At the same time, the company is optimistic about the latest EU initiatives, including the Steel and Metals Action Plan presented in March 2025. This plan envisages the creation of effective mechanisms to protect the internal market, including improving the carbon border adjustment mechanism (MACF) and limiting steel imports to 15% of total EU demand. The updated safeguard measures that came into force on April 1 were the first important step in this direction. (Source: GMK Center)

Suntory Commits £6 Million to Eco-Friendly Transformation of Lucozade Bottles Packaging
Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I (SBF GB&I), the maker of Lucozade, has announced a £6.3 million investment in a significant redesign of its Lucozade Energy packaging. As part of this revamp, the bottles will now feature a half-sleeve that covers just 50% of the bottle’s height, a sharp contrast to the previous full-length sleeves. According to SBF GB&I, this adjustment is expected to save an impressive 956 tonnes of plastic annually. Additionally, the new design will reduce water usage by an amount equal to filling an Olympic-sized swimming pool every 289 days. The packaging transformation involved installing state-of-the-art sleeving technology on three separate production lines at SBF GB&I’s Coleford facility. The entire project was completed within a tight six-week timeframe. (Source: Sustainability)

Pakistan and Russia Agree to Establish New Steel Mill in Karachi

Pakistan and Russia have agreed to establish a steel mill in Karachi, state media reported on Tuesday, aiming to boost bilateral ties and expand industrial collaboration between the two countries. Their understanding reflects a broader deepening of Pakistan-Russia relations in recent years, including energy cooperation on oil and gas supplies. In 2023, the two sides worked on a deal for the delivery of Russian crude to Pakistan, and talks have continued on broader energy partnerships. The two countries are also collaborating on the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline, a major infrastructure project aimed at transporting imported gas from Karachi to Punjab to help meet Pakistan’s energy needs. The idea of the new steel mills was discussed during a meeting between Russian representative Denis Nazaroof and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Haroon Akhtar Khan. (Source: ARAB News)

Comstock Metals Awarded the First R2V3/RIOS Certifications for Zero-Waste Solar Panel

Comstock Inc. announced that its subsidiary, Comstock Metals LLC, a pioneer in sustainable, zero-landfill solar panel recycling is the first solar panel recycling company in North America to be certified to the R2v3/RIOS Responsible Recycling Standard, and specifically to Appendix G that authenticates a zero-waste recycling process that safely repurposes each recycled material into new commercial applications. Comstock Metals has demonstrated panel processing with proprietary thermal methods, producing 100% commodity-ready products. All parts of the panel, including glass, aluminum, and fines, are fully recycled. SERI is an accredited third-party auditor certifying recycling facilities and their downstream vendors for the responsible recycling of electronic products. The R2v3 Responsible Recycling Standard and Appendix G certify Comstock Metals’ primary recycling facility and photovoltaic (PV) module recycling processes, validating that Comstock Metals’ entire operation is conducted with the highest level of safety and environmental stewardship. (Source: Comstock)

Republic Services to Build State-of-the-Art Recycling Center in the St. Louis Area
Republic Services, Inc. announced plans to construct a state-of-the-art recycling center in Bridgeton, Mo., to serve Greater St. Louis and the region. Republic Services expects the facility, anticipated to open in mid-2027, will have higher capacity and more advanced technology than current facilities in the area, helping to improve recycling rates. The 105,000-square-foot recycling center is estimated to manage recyclables from approximately 3 million people throughout Greater St. Louis and surrounding communities. The high-capacity facility will process up to 45 tons, or nine truckloads, of single-stream recyclables per hour, including paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and jugs, aluminum and metal food and beverage cans, and glass bottles and jars. (Source: Republic Services)

Hydro Champions Urban Mining at the Biennale Architettura 2025

Hydro is putting urban mining in the spotlight as an official supporter of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. At the exhibition, Hydro is featuring two collaborative projects made with 100 percent recycled post-consumer aluminium, Hydro CIRCAL 100R, one of which is the core structure throughout the venue. “Raising awareness of low-emission, recycled aluminium among architects is key to lowering the industry’s total emissions. It is essential for us to be a key consideration for architects from the outset, as sustainability starts at the drawing board. Being a supporter and presenting our recycled aluminium breakthroughs at the Biennale Architettura 2025 in collaboration with such visionary architects feels like a perfect fit,” says Director of Marketing and Communications at Hydro Extrusions, Asle Forsbak. The building industry accounts for approximately one-third of Hydro’s revenues and the company has a long history of collaborating with architects. The Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company is spearheading a sustainable shift in the aluminium industry, pioneering low-emission, recycled aluminium using urban mining practices. (Source: Hydro)

Bridgestone Debuts 70% Recycled & Renewable Demonstration Tire at WasteExpo

Bridgestone Americas has debuted a demonstration commercial tire featuring 70% recycled and renewable materials. The tire, which features 37% renewable and 33% recycled material, is the first commercially available tire to reach this level of sustainable materials, and is the company’s first waste-specific tire to earn International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS certification, a globally recognized system that supports the transition to a circular economy and bioeconomy. The tire debuted at the WasteExpo event in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bridgestone also presented its new Drive-Over System for fleets. The 70% recycled and renewable demonstration tire is based on the Bridgestone M870, a high-scrub, all-position radial waste and recycling tire specifically designed for urban waste collection fleets. (Bridgestone)

Guinea Revokes 46 Mining Licences, Signalling Stricter Oversight of Major Operators

Guinea has revoked the licences of 46 mining companies operating in the country, a government source told Reuters on Thursday, while another said it could be up to 53 permits, in what some analysts see as a warning shot to larger operators in the world's second-largest bauxite producer. The move comes amid growing resource nationalism in the military-ruled country and across Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, where authorities have tightened control over their vast mineral wealth since military coups in 2020. (Source: Reuters)

Maryland Becomes Sixth State to Enact EPR Legislation

In a major victory for waste reduction and recycling reform, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed SB 901 into law, which will establish a statewide Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program for packaging. Maryland has now become the sixth state in the U.S. to enact such packaging EPR legislation – after Maine (2021), Oregon (2021), Colorado (2022), California (2022), and Minnesota (2024). The law, which passed the General Assembly on April 7, requires packaging producers to fund and manage the recycling system, marking a major milestone in the state’s effort to reduce waste; boost packaging reuse, recycling, and composting; and build a more circular economy. (Source: PSI)

India Plans Retaliatory Tariffs on US Steel and Aluminium Duties Under WTO Norms

India on Monday proposed to impose retaliatory tariffs on US products under World Trade Organisation(WTO) rules, in response to American safeguard measures on steel and aluminium imports. The move comes as both countries engage in bilateral trade negotiations. According to a formal communication to the WTO, India said the US safeguard tariffs, extended earlier this year, affect Indian exports worth $ 7.6 billion, and would lead to a duty collection of approximately $1.91 billion. In response, India has proposed to suspend equivalent trade concessions by imports from the US. ( Source: Times of India)

AlSl Applauds US-China Tariff Agreement

Kevin Dempsey, president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute, applauded the agreement reached by the U.S. and China to temporarily reduce tariffs, eliminate retaliation and retain a U.S. baseline tariff on China while continuing future trade discussions. Dempsey highlighted the particular significance of the agreement to the American steel industry: “We applaud today’s agreement and thank President Trump, Secretary Bessent and Ambassador Greer for their leadership in reaching this agreement, which retains important trade measures for steel. American steel producers are all too familiar with the detrimental effects that unfair trade practices by China and other countries have had on domestic industries and their workers, and are pleased that measures to address these unfair trade practices will remain in place,” Dempsey said. (Source: AISI)