Maine is boosting its trading opportunities by exporting tens of millions of dollars worth of a commodity that has nothing to do with the state鈥檚 iconic lobsters.
Waste and scrap metal, destined for recycling into big-ticket consumer goods, is among Maine鈥檚 top 20 categories of exports. It accounted for nearly $35 million of the state鈥檚 $1.2 billion in exports in the first half of 2017, and by year鈥檚 end, it could top the six-year high of $50.7 million exported in 2016.
Two countries, Mexico and Switzerland, made refuse their top trading item with the state this year after buying none the past two years.聽Mexico, a major exporter of cars and household appliances to the United States, imported close to $6.1 million in Maine waste, about 20 percent of the state鈥檚 total exports to that country. And聽Switzerland imported $9.25 million, or 68 percent of its total purchases from Maine.
Those markets give Maine new areas to sell recyclable metal waste and scrap from construction debris, junked car parts and discarded appliances. Some of the metals come from outside the state, but count as Maine exports when they leave via Maine ports.
Most of Maine鈥檚 scrap and waste left via Portland. However, almost 10 percent of聽Bangor鈥檚聽total exports, valued at $527,221, was scrap iron and steel, ranking it the No. 6 export for the city, according to World City, a Miami consultancy. The city exports and imports goods through its聽harbor and airport.
鈥淢ost of the iron and scrap to Mexico is used for automotive and [consumer] white goods like refrigerators,鈥� said Ken Roberts, president of World City. 鈥淪witzerland uses precious metals for jewelry.鈥�
Both countries have dramatically increased imports of metals, likely due to pending trade issues, fluctuating metal prices and China鈥檚 efforts to drastically reduce waste imports, he said.
China plans to ban 24 solid waste imports by year鈥檚 end, reportedly due to environmental and health concerns. China had been a big trash market for Maine, but it has taken only $29,964 worth of waste so far this year, down from $832,732 in 2016.
Maine鈥檚 two new markets in Mexico and Switzerland could more than make up for any shortfall in China, analysts said.
Neighboring聽Canada聽is on track this year at $18.8 million to nudge up its waste and scrap purchases from Maine over 2016.
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