ISRI’s Commodity Roundtables Forum will take place Sept. 22-24, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago. The annual event attracts processors, brokers, traders, and other recycling professionals from around the world. Register here.
Expectations for rising electric vehicle and rechargeable battery demand have helped to propel nickel and stainless prices higher in 2021. Nickel/Stainless Roundtable participants will gain critical information about global market fundamentals and the demand outlook moving forward.
Sean Davidson, Nickel/Stainless panel moderator, is the founder and CEO of Davis Index, a price reporting agency covering global ferrous and nonferrous scrap and secondary markets. Launched in 2020, the market intelligence service includes more than 900 proprietary price indexes across 80 countries for the metals recycling industry. Davis is headquartered in Singapore with offices in Canada, India, Mexico, Singapore, Ukraine, and the U.S.
Prior to founding Davis Index, Davidson reinvigorated scrap coverage across the Metal Bulletin Group (rebranded to Fastmarkets in 2018) as global editor of raw materials at American Metal Market, Metal Bulletin, and Steel First, based out of New York. At AMM/MB, Davidson launched the index for America’s first scrap futures contract: the CME busheling contract. In 2015, Davidson moved to Houston to build and launch Argus Metal Prices as its global editor, which he exited in 2019.
Before his roles at AMM/MB and Argus, Davidson served different journalistic and entrepreneurial roles in the U.K., Middle East, and India. His career has spanned print, online, television, recreation, hospitality, and technology.
How did you get into the recycling industry?
A little over 12 years ago I moved to New York, from London, with a tech start up that I co-founded. I exited the venture about six months after moving to New York and decided to return to print journalism. EMII had a position open at Metal Bulletin/AMM, which I interviewed for and subsequently got. So basically, I had dived into a world I knew nothing about, started on nonferrous metals, and it was a steep and rapid learning curve.
I fell in love with the industry at my first industry meeting, which was the ISRI Mid-Atlantic chapter meeting, and now I bleed metals! I love what I do, what the industry does, and the incredible positive impact it has on our planet.
What about metals trading drew you in to the business and continues to interest you?
The people that drive this trade and industry drew me in. And the fact that the price of a substitute metal—and those substitutes exist for most metals—along with how changes in freight cost acutely impact physical prices fascinate me. I devote a lot of time on most days studying the little intricacies that are triggering changes in scrap prices. It’s my happy place.
What are you looking forward to at this year’s Commodity Roundtables?
It’s my favorite ISRI event of the year and I have learned so much from the people I have met at past roundtables. This year I look forward to just being able to meet everyone again in person and giving them a hug! I can’t wait to catch up with them to get updated on how they’re doing and what headwinds they’re preparing for.
What are some of the topics that may be covered during your panel this year?
We will be talking about the hype driving primary nickel prices, impacts of ELV on physical nickel, stainless markets in Asia, developments in Zurik pricing, why steel producers are staring at a margin squeeze next year, and hopefully, if there’s time, find out what Chicago’s best craft beer is.
How did you get involved with ISRI?
The first person I ever spoke to in the industry suggested I meet him at an ISRI event and since then I have attended at least six ISRI events a year. I have forced every organization I worked for to become members of ISRI, to sponsor its events, to attend its events—and I tell every company I meet to join ISRI. It is by far the most valuable resource to the U.S. recycling industry.
David Bestwick, a Nickel/Stainless speaker, is director of sales and procurement at Dominion Nickel Alloys. Before working for Dominion, Bestwick was a manager in the melting department of a mill in western Pennsylvania. Bestwick currently serves as the ISRI Empire Chapter president and was the former fire chief at Butler Township Fire District in Butler County, Penn. Bestwick has over 10 years of fire safety experience, and he has served in positions ranging from lieutenant to fire chief. He has two children, and volunteers a great deal of his time in his community.
How did you get into the recycling industry?
I spent 10 years in the raw materials side of a melt shop in the Pittsburgh area out of high school. It was a great experience to interact with the raw materials suppliers and I especially enjoyed the scrap metal part of the job.
What about metals trading drew you in to the business and continues to interest you?
The people. I’ve been fortunate to serve on the national Board of Directors for almost four years now and have made some great friendships. I enjoy interacting with and learning from so many different people from all over North America. It’s been a very positive experience
What are you looking forward to at this year’s Commodity Roundtables?
Seeing everyone in person! It’s been too long since we’ve been in person. I’m tired of looking at my colleagues through my laptop. I can’t wait to hear from the great slate of speakers that ISRI has lined up as well.
What are some of the topics that may be covered during the Nickel/Stainless Roundtable this year?
For a while now demand has been good. It will be interesting to hear what trends have been seen. I’m curious when the EV nickel consumption will start to impact volumes. I’m also interested to hear what consumption will be like on a global scale over the next few quarters.
How did you get involved with ISRI?
Brian Shine. He’s been such a great mentor to me. ISRI meetings have always been a great way to network—not only with friends, but also to meet new business opportunities. Brian approached me almost 10 years ago at an event and suggested I get more involved at the chapter level. I’m very glad I took his advice.
Anil Shah, President of Ni-Met Metals Inc., also will speak at the Nickel/Stainless Roundtable. A chemical engineer by profession, he migrated to Canada in 1990 after successfully running a trading business, Margi Industrial Services, in Mumbai, India. In Canada, Shah put his entrepreneurial acumen to good use by founding Ni-Met Metals in 1990. The company offers nickel, steel, zinc, copper, lead, aluminum, tin, brass, and other metals.
First photo: Sean Davidson. Photo courtesy of Sean Davidson. Second photo: Dave Bestwick. Photo courtesy of ISRI. Third photo: Anil Shah. Photo courtesy of Ni-Met Metals.
