On August 10, 2020, a strike began after failed negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement between the port workers union CUPE Local 375 and the Montreal Port Authority. 

This strike has heavily impacted ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal exporters, causing higher shipping costs and logistical challenges. 

This has resulted in 90,000 TEUs stranded on the docks or on the container ships and diverted shipments to terminals in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Saint John. Diversion charges range from $100-375 per 20ft container or more for larger shipment sizes. 

For ferrous scrap containers, the charges are significantly higher and are much more damaging for those exporters compared to the nonferrous scrap containers. 

Due to the shift in container volumes, the terminals in Halifax and Saint John have been heavily impacted, causing increased traffic and more work than the current workforce can handle. It has also caused multi-week delays as the strike reaches its third week. As a result of the congestion, export containers have not been moved. 

The bulk ferrous scrap export market has not been impacted by the strike and exporters have been selling to the domestic market. Prior to the strike, the top three export destinations were India, Mexico and Turkey. With Montreal in the lead for Canadian ferrous scrap shipments.

Alnor Industries can help you with your carbide scrap and more! We have developed a strong network of consumers in the trading and processing industry of non ferrous and ferrous materials and carbide scrap. We ship metal worldwide and have markets for re-usable raw materials. We can also broker loads directly to the processors that create raw material. If you have any ferrous or non ferrous scrap or carbide scrap, we can help you get the best price for it. Contact Alnor Industries today for a quote or to learn more about what we can do for you!

External resources: 

https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news/2134829-montreal-port-strike-snarls-scrap-metal-trade