Page 84 from: Recycling International September/October 2025

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‘Buyers are asking for prices
to cover the tariffs’
Recycling International regularly spotlights individual scrap traders around the globe. Here we give the floor to

Bhavna Razdan of India.

MEET BHAVNA
‘I was born in the late 1970s in a small town in Haryana in the north
of India. After completing a Bachelor study in Science and a Master
in International Business, I started working for a corporate in 1998
and continued before I took an entrepreneurial step to establish my
own metal scrap recycling business. Beyond work, I’m passionate
about supporting women in business and love contributing to plat-
forms like Women In Recycling (WIR) that encourage their voice. On
a personal level, I enjoy travel, connecting with diverse cultures,
and I believe in making sustainability not just a business, but a way
of life.’

MY COMPANY
‘It was in 2011 that I founded Ansh Enterprises, named after my
son, Ansh. Since its inception, the company has grown into a trust-
ed name in the global trading of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap met-
als as well as alloy ingots. We began importing and trading ferrous
scrap, later expanded into PET scrap, and today our primary focus
lies in aluminium. Over the years, we have built strong capabilities
in the import, trade and export of a wide range of non-ferrous
scrap and alloy ingots.
By consistently delivering quality and reliability, we have become a
preferred partner to leading recyclers across the region, recognised
for our professionalism, market expertise and commitment to long-
term relationships.’

THE MARKET
‘The biggest current challenge is extreme volatility in the LME and
regional scrap indices, driven by geopolitical tensions, changing
trade policies, and fluctuating demand from key industries like con-
struction and automotive. Moreover, logistics bottlenecks and com-
pliance requirements add complexity to the cross-border trade. For
smaller and mid-sized players like us, access to a consistent supply
of raw materials and finance remains a major struggle.’

MORE HURDLES
‘Global trade bans and US import tariffs have created market dis-
tortions which are directly affecting the pricing, demand and flow of
raw materials. For traders like me, exports to US – which were
roughly about 20% of the total business – have literally dried up
over the last couple of months. Buyers are asking for prices to cover
the tariffs and, with the interrupted availability, there is no scope of
matching their demands. Obviously, this has increased arbitrage
risks and made contract renegotiations tougher. Financing is a chal-

lenge as the sale and purchase cycle for most of the businesses is
broken. These restrictions have also caused regional oversupply or
scarcity, impacting margins and liquidity and have made survival of
smaller companies a lot tougher.’

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY JOB
‘The ever-changing global scenario which keeps me on my toes.
The market responds so rapidly to the geopolitical news, that you
have to be quick not only with your decision-making but also fore-
casting its outcome. It’s that dynamic that I love. What’s more, as
my job involves connecting with new people, I enjoy the associated
travel and meeting traders who come from diverse cultures. Also, I
like contributing to the circular economy, knowing that each trans-
action I conclude supports sustainability.’

FREQUENT FLYER
‘Normally, within India, I have to travel anytime there is a new meet-
ing request from a potential facility which may happen every month
or so. International travel is around three to five times a year, with
each trip taking seven to 10 days.’

BEST TRADE SHOW / CONFERENCE
‘ReMA and BIR are the most-loved events. However, as our major
selling market is in India and the Far East, the International
Recycled Materials Conference, organised by trade body MRAI, is
my favourite. It is attended by major buyers and suppliers from all
over India and across Asia. They normally conduct one trade show
per year in India and one overseas. I have been representing my
company at MRAI for years and admire the platform it provides for
networking and knowledge exchange – crucial in our industry where
trust drives business.’

FAVOURITE DESTINATION
‘One of the best travel experiences for work was visiting the UK to
attend the Women in Recycling Conference at Belfry Hotel in
Birmingham. The event was special not just for its agenda but also
for the sense of community and empowerment it created among
female professionals in recycling. The venue itself was ideal, well-
organised, comfortable and conducive to networking. What stood
out most was the opportunity to connect with fellow recyclers,
share perspectives, and strengthen women’s voice in global
recycling issues, making it both a memorable and inspiring experi-
ence.’

A U T H O R Martijn Reintjes

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