The industry remains highly localized due to freight costs. A drum broker in Ohio (a US industrial hub) cannot economically serve a buyer in Texas. This limits economies of scale.
Brokers absorb inventory risk. They buy small lots from generators (cash-and-carry) and hold inventory until an end-user order arrives. This buffers both sides from price volatility in scrap steel and virgin resin markets. drum brokers
This is a unique and niche topic. A "drum broker" typically acts as a middleman between sellers of used or new industrial drums (steel, plastic, fiber) and buyers who need them for storage, shipping, or reconditioning. The industry remains highly localized due to freight costs