## A Scrap Life Podcast

### Introduction

**Host – Brett Ehart:**
Welcome to “A Scrap Life,” a podcast solely focused on the hustlers, grinders, operators, and business owners who live and breathe the scrap metal industry every day. Here’s your host, Brett Ehart.

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**Brett Ehart:**
Good morning, everybody. Welcome to podcast number 5,465. I’m just making that number up, but the reality is, I’ve always said the smarter people you can surround yourself with, the smarter you appear. Today, Chad and I have managed to recruit Ailla Woodell from Navigate Commodities.

**Brett Ehart:**
Ailla, if you’ve paid attention to LinkedIn at all, you’ll know what he does. I’ll let him explain in detail, but essentially, he’s the guy who pays attention to markets, both inside and outside the US, using satellite technology and other advanced tools. We try to offer forward insight into the Ferris markets, provide talking points, and negotiating points for different markets. We’re thrilled to have Ailla join us today. Chad is here too, as always. Welcome to the podcast! How’s everyone doing this morning?

**Ailla Woodell:**
Yeah, brilliant. Thanks for having us. It’s fantastic to be here. I’m a big fan of the show. Thank you so much for having me.

**Brett Ehart:**
I love what you’re doing out there. I’ve noticed you putting your face out there more and talking about the markets, giving people perspectives outside of their bubbles. I do this podcast because I tend to get caught up in my own bubble over here in the Northwest. Chad, what do you have for us today?

**Chad:**
First, Ailla, are you more of a bear or bull in the market? Overall, are you more pessimistic or optimistic for this month?

**Ailla Woodell:**
Well, Brett’s right. Timing is crucial. Are we talking about March or looking further ahead? In the near term, we were mildly bullish in mid-Feb as we approached March, especially seeing firm utilization rates in the US. It dipped a bit in early March, but considering other factors like wintry weather on the east coast, it seemed more of a sideways to slight uptick. But how are things on the ground in the first week of March?

**Brett Ehart:**
I pay attention to the info and tended to agree with the optimism until external factors like the Iran war situation emerged. Personally, I expected March to be bullish but am now cautiously navigating this, feeling it might be a sideways to down market.

**Chad:**
On a positive note, we have good inflation data. Does this change your sentiment towards the overall economy?

**Ailla Woodell:**
Considering the current economic environment, we’ve seen the price of new steel come up, which drives up pipe prices, although not by much. There’s optimism among industrial accounts compared to last year, with people adjusting to the economic policies in place.

**Brett Ehart:**
Yes, prices for new steel have increased, driving pipe prices upward. People are more optimistic in 2026 than in 2025. Despite economic pressures, the flow of scrap wasn’t bad during winter here thanks to mild weather, which kept things busy.

**Ailla Woodell:**
From a broader perspective, inflation is down compared to a year ago. High-interest rates seem to have done their job by controlling inflation, impacting markets globally. Considering the geopolitical climate and potential disruptions in energy supply, there’s a tail risk of inflation pressures building again.

**Brett Ehart:**
Inflation in the US compared to other countries like Turkey highlights the economic pressures. If energy prices spike due to conflicts, it could severely affect countries reliant on imports. The global economic dynamics are complex.

**Chad:**
How does inflation globally impact steel markets, especially from your perspective?

**Ailla Woodell:**
Globally, high inflation rates have reduced in some markets. But geopolitical issues like the Iran situation threaten global energy supplies, potentially leading to increased prices. This could reignite inflationary pressures globally.

**Brett Ehart:**
Yeah, the dynamics in Turkey due to energy import reliance illustrate how vulnerable economies are to global events. If energy supplies are disrupted, we may see inflation worsen again.

**Ailla Woodell:**
Yeah, Turkey’s dependency on energy imports makes them vulnerable to global supply disruptions. They import a lot of essential energy supplies and face challenges when prices fluctuate drastically.

**Chad:**
Yes, and pricing dynamics due to geopolitical issues extend beyond just resource prices, affecting overall economic stability.

**Brett Ehart:**
Exactly, markets need to account for these dynamics. Opportunities exist in understanding these shifting conditions to make informed economic decisions.

**Ailla Woodell:**
Scrap metal plays a crucial role, with monitoring and data insights providing invaluable understanding of trade flows and market stability. Understanding these market dynamics allows companies to position strategically and plan proactively.

**Brett Ehart:**
Absolutely, strategic positioning, understanding market flows, and aligning one’s business operations with these insights are key to navigating the global scrap and steel industries efficiently and effectively.

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### Conclusion

**Brett Ehart:**
Well, we appreciate you, Ailla, for your insights and what Navigate Commodities offers. Thanks for bringing us a broader perspective. Looking forward to having you on the show again.

**Chad:**
Thanks, Ailla, for contributing to a deeper understanding of these market dynamics. Your insights are invaluable.

**Ailla Woodell:**
Thank you both. It’s been fantastic being here and discussing these critical issues. Happy to join anytime.

**Brett Ehart:**
Take care, everyone. We’ll see you on the next episode of “A Scrap Life.”