The Trade – Episode #7 with Nick, Brett and Chad | August 1st, 2025

The Trade | The Trade Transcription

On this episode of A Scrap Life, Nick, Brett and Chad delve into the current state of the scrap metal industry, dissecting pressing issues. The discussion covers macroeconomic trends, including the impact of high interest rates on demand and the disconnect between a strong stock market fueled by AI expectations and a struggling industrial sector. It also explores the volatility of raw material markets, highlighting how tariffs and global economic conditions affect prices for steel, copper, and aluminum, alongside the outlook for steel and scrap sectors amidst these challenges. Produced by Recycled Media.

Transcription

### Welcome to A Scrap Life Podcast

**Focused on the Hustlers, Grinders, Operators, and Business Owners**
– [6.48 – 11.52] 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 is your host, Brett Eart.

—

**Discussion on Market Trends and Economic Insights**
– [27.44 – 32.24] I’ll kick this off. I’m here with Chad and Brett going over the trade again. It’s the first day of August, which is absolutely insane to me because I feel like it was winter not that long ago, but here we are. And Chad, go for it.
– [44.24 – 46.48] Hey guys, how you guys doing?
– [49.20 – 53.76] Good, man. Good. How’s the mosquito um batting going over there in Ohio?
– [55.36 – 59.28] You would think the scrap would be down or it should be down with all this tremendous heat.

—

**Market Analysis and Financial Impact**
– [78.48 – 82.80] Let’s jump into it. If you really look at the Dow Jones, the big tech stocks are doing well.
– [97.92 – 100.40] The market’s very stagnant on the macro view.
– [102.56 – 111.44] The real big question mark, I guess, is inflation.
– [118.08 – 120.48] At the end of the day, no, he’s not right. And I will agree with Trump wholeheartedly on this.

—

**Interest Rates and Economic Strategies**
– [184.32 – 188.32] I feel like the rates could come down. It’s going to spark the economy even more.
– [203.44 – 207.04] People want to buy cars, they want to buy houses, they want to build buildings.

—

**Impact of Tariffs and Global Market Conditions**
– [258.40 – 263.28] Pal’s side to be the devil’s advocate, is, you know, he’s like, “Hey, we’re going to have all these tariffs.”
– [280.16 – 282.24] That’s what they said before. And have they?

—

**Impact of AI and Technology on Market Dynamics**
– [447.28 – 452.00] On the other hand, the stock market is through the roof.
– [460.24 – 466.00] We are near all-time highs. Think of like 2000 when we have these market peaks.
– [495.04 – 504.48] Paul Tudor Jones, Elon Musk, say, “Hey, AI has an 80% chance of changing the world.”

—

**Global Manufacturing and Trade Dynamics**
– [601.44 – 605.92] I think we also like, I mean there’s no doubt in my mind that we pulled forward so much demand after COVID.

—

**Iron Ore and Scrap Market Overview**
– [728.72 – 734.00] We’re looking at the chart, the copper was right around $5ish at the beginning of the month.
– [888.80 – 893.36] Aluminum took a little bit of a dip month over month here.

—

**Tariff Implications and Steel Market Strategies**
– [980.72 – 988.08] Well, I think about the Ferris market, the tariffs causing volatility.
– [1160.08 – 1163.68] The steel mills need all the help they can get.

—

**Conclusion and Industry Outlook**
– [1461.04 – 1466.24] If those things do start to rise, I think better times are ahead.
– [1507.28 – 1513.24] This specific podcast is dedicated to the Ferris side.
– [1541.20 – 1545.12] So, I still feel good. We got a chance to buy more scrap tomorrow.

—

**Final Thoughts**
– [1567.28 – 1574.92] All right, gentlemen. It was great catching up on the Ferris market and we’ll be talking soon.

Thank you for tuning in!