Scrap
Overview
Argus provides comprehensive and detailed coverage of the global ferrous and non-ferrous scrap markets, with over 1,000 prices assessed by a global network of highly skilled market experts.
Argus’ strength lies in our ability to create appropriate methodologies for the trading dynamics of a specific spot market and to provide mechanisms for valuing scrap alloys.
Participants in the scrap industry rely on our extensive price data to act as an independent contract settlement mechanism, and use our powerful tools, like the Argus Alloy Calculator, to estimate the intrinsic value of highly engineered alloys.
Ferrous coverage
Argus offers a comprehensive regional view of the most active spot markets for ferrous scrap in regions around the world. Each price is available for direct comparison in multiple markets, with currency and unit of measurement conversions available to standardise charts and facilitate detection of favourable trade conditions.
Distinguished by either fob dealer or delivered to consumer inco terms, all prices are aligned with common industry specifications for that region. Explore the full list of scrap prices and specifications, including the length of history available on the Argus Metals platform for the grades assessed.
- Bundles
- Busheling
- Foundry/specialty
- Heavy melt
- Machine shop turnings
- Plate and structural
- Shredded scrap
- Tool steel
- Stainless and super alloys
- Alloy Calculator, where the current value of any alloy can be calculated by an intrinsic value formula in the absence of sufficient liquidity to produce a proper assessment
Non-ferrous coverage
Argus provides the full range of non-ferrous coverage from scrap price assessments on UBC, zorba, taint, tweak, and twitch products, as well as exchange data (30-minute delay LME and Comex prices are standard with Argus products) and global base metal premiums. Explore the full list of scrap prices in each non-ferrous category and visit the exchange data page to understand the unique value that Argus brings through its analysis of global exchange prices.
- Aluminium prices
- Aluminium alloy prices
- Brass/bronze prices
- Copper prices
- Lead prices
- Nickel prices
- Stainless and alloys
- Zinc prices
- Alloy Calculator, including over 200 predefined common alloys
- Exchange data
Highlights of North American coverage
Argus’ coverage of the North American scrap market focuses on spot market trading patterns within the most active regional domestic trading locations, as well as on export transactions. The full value chain is represented in the suite of Argus scrap assessments, from collected at yard to delivered to consumer prices:
- 8 containerised scrap price locations
- 14 consumer buying scrap price locations, including US and Canada
- 8 export yard scrap buying price locations
- 4 dealer selling scrap price locations
- 139 regional US and Canada non-ferrous scrap yard collection prices
- Prime and obsolete grades of scrap price assessments
- Mill and foundry grades of scrap price assessments: Titanium, stainless and scrap alloy pricing
- Southern US busheling and shredded weighted average assessments
Highlights of European coverage
Argus Scrap Markets provides context and intelligence to European domestic scrap markets to help steel mills, scrap suppliers, buyers and industrial manufacturers gain a greater understanding of the markets in which they operate. Argus produces over 50 European scrap prices assessments, including:
- German domestic ferrous scrap prices
- Spanish domestic ferrous scrap prices
- Spanish imported scrap prices
- UK domestic ferrous scrap prices
- Russia, including St Petersburg, dockside price
Highlights of Asian coverage
Argus carries Asian scrap prices from a variety of mature scrap-generating markets, and provides insightful analysis of deep-sea trades and short-sea trades. Argus covers the full scope of steel mill purchasing activity for electric arc furnace-based production, including stainless and engineered steels, in recognition of the global nature of many steel feedstocks purchased by mills across the world:
- Taiwan imported ferrous scrap prices
- India imported ferrous scrap prices
- Pakistan imported ferrous scrap prices
- Bangladesh imported ferrous scrap prices
- China, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan imported aluminium scrap prices
- China, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan imported copper scrap prices
Argus carries a variety of global scrap prices in each of its three core products — Argus Scrap Markets, Argus Ferrous Markets and Argus Non-Ferrous Markets. To discover the combination of products that will provide the most complete coverage to serve your company’s needs, contact us for a consultation. Information about Argus subscription options can be found here.
Stay ahead of the scrap metal markets
To be informed of relevant content, sign up to Argus Scrap Metal Market Highlights. Each newsletter issue provides key prices, selected news, downloadable insight papers, podcasts, and on-demand videos across the global scrap markets. Our coverage spans both ferrous and non-ferrous scrap, enabling you to explore the most active spot markets for scrap around the world.
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PNE to recycle SK battery scrap in Georgia
PNE to recycle SK battery scrap in Georgia
Houston, 30 September (Argus) — US battery materials producer Princeton NuEnergy (PNE) will recycle manufacturing scrap from SK Battery America's (SKBA) plants in Commerce, Georgia, extending their partnership on closed-loop recycling. PNE is considering building a recycling plant near the SKBA site to process the scrap, using its cathode-to-cathode process, so that battery manufacturing scrap can be reused in cell manufacturing. Conventional recycling breaks down cathode material into its individual elements. PNE's process is designed to keep the cathode's engineered structure intact and rejuvenate it. Its direct recycling process recovers 95pc of critical minerals and costs over 45pc less than mining, pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical recycling methods, according to the company. PNE was recently awarded up to $50mn from the US Department of Energy for a proposed $110mn cathode-to-cathode facility in the US. The facility is expected to have an initial capacity of 3,000 metric tonnes (t)/yr, potentially expanding to 30,000 t/yr by 2035. SKBA, a subsidiary of South Korea's SK On, operates electric vehicle battery plants in Commerce with a combined capacity of about 22 GWh/yr. It has invested around $2.6bn in the sites. By Carol Luk Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
GMI plans integrated steel, pipe facility in Abu Dhabi
GMI plans integrated steel, pipe facility in Abu Dhabi
Mumbai, 30 September (Argus) — UAE-based Green Metals Industries (GMI) plans to develop an integrated steel, pipe and tube complex in Abu Dhabi's Kezad industrial zone that will produce specialty and alloy steel grades currently imported by the country, the company said on 30 September. All steel produced at the complex will be melted and poured in the UAE, aligning with the "Make it in the Emirates" agenda, GMI said. The complex combines steel melting, casting, rolling and pipe production at a single site, allowing GMI to manufacture products from liquid steel to finished tubular products. The melt shop has a capacity of 1.2mn-1.4mn t/yr and will use scrap and other metallic feedstocks. Steelmaking is supported by induction and electric arc furnaces, together with secondary metallurgy facilities including a ladle refining furnace, argon oxygen decarburisation and vacuum oxygen decarburisation units, GMI said. GMI committed about $250mn to the first phase of the project and expects to invest a similar amount in the second phase. The company said key long-lead equipment has already been ordered, with phased commissioning scheduled from early to mid-2028. GMI plans to supply semi-finished products such as blooms, billets and rounds, alongside finished flat and long products in carbon, stainless and alloy steel grades. "We will be producing the steel that the UAE is currently importing, and not more of what it already makes," GMI chief executive Sameer Sharma said, adding that the project will reduce supply chain risks for UAE manufacturers. GMI expects output to reach around 70,000 t/month by the end of the fourth quarter, and 100,000-120,000 t/month by mid-2027. Most fourth-quarter production will initially comprise carbon steel, before it gradually expands into rolled flat and long products and stainless steel over the following quarters as investments are phased in, company sources said. While GMI's focus is on specialty and alloy steel flat and long products, it will also supply commercial-grade billets to local mills in response to current domestic market conditions. Seaborne billet trade to the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) region has been severely affected by the poor security conditions in the Red Sea and strait of Hormuz. Traders seeking to supply billet to GCC markets reported losing deals that were close to conclusion after Yemen's Houthi rebels seized territory on the shores of the Red Sea earlier in September, prompting some vessel owners to avoid certain ports. Import market conditions for hot-rolled coil (HRC) in the GCC also remain challenging because of elevated freight costs, marine insurance issues, port congestion and demurrage charges. GMI intends to source most of its metallic feedstocks domestically, but expects the UAE to begin importing scrap from early 2027 as growth in steel demand outpaces local scrap generation. By Amruta Khandekar Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EU scrap restrictions 'threaten established trade'
EU scrap restrictions 'threaten established trade'
London, 29 September (Argus) — The European Commission's proposed restrictions on ferrous scrap exports to non-OECD countries would disrupt long-established trade flows to major steelmaking markets, an industry body has said. The commission has published a draft list of non-OECD countries that would be authorised to import specified non-hazardous waste from the EU after 21 May 2027. Major ferrous scrap importers Egypt, Morocco, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are not currently authorised to receive EU ferrous scrap under the draft . A public consultation on the draft list is running until 16 October. The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) has warned that the commission's draft delegated act under the EU Waste Shipment Regulation could seriously disrupt global recycling markets. It urged industry associations, businesses and governments to submit factual corrections, evidence and practical examples during the consultation. The effect of the restrictions, if adopted, would vary considerably by market. Some destinations have already shifted away from European supply, while others would have to make substantial changes to their ferrous scrap sourcing. Morocco, Egypt highly exposed Among the most exposed are Morocco and Egypt, whose steelmakers rely heavily on scrap-based production and export finished steel to the EU. A Moroccan mill told Argus that restricting EU scrap exports could undermine the bloc's wider decarbonisation objectives by making lower-emission steelmaking more difficult. The lack of domestic natural gas also limits the potential for DRI-based production, it said. Morocco is particularly dependent on nearby supply, partly because of port handling restrictions. A local steelmaker said the UK would be one of its principal alternative scrap sources if EU material became unavailable, although it was concerned that the UK could eventually introduce similar measures. Primary metallics such as DRI and pig iron would provide only limited substitution, with the mill estimating that they could account for a maximum of around 20pc of its metallic charge because of its electric arc furnace's (EAF) technical parameters. Egypt could also turn increasingly to the UK and US, which already supply the country, while Russia and the Americas could provide additional volumes. Russian supply is currently constrained by export quotas and shipping difficulties, which increase freight costs and delivered prices. UK supply could increase, given the country's comparatively low domestic scrap consumption, although additional demand is expected when Tata Steel's new EAF in Wales comes on line. Egypt imported 2.89mn t of EU-origin ferrous scrap in 2025, accounting for almost 80pc of its total scrap imports, GTT data show. EU-origin imports were 501,000t in the first half of 2026. South Asia already diversifying South Asian importers are less dependent on EU supply and already take scrap from a considerably wider range of origins. India and Pakistan combine European and UK supply with material from the US, UAE, Asia and elsewhere. India in particular has a highly diversified supplier base, potentially giving buyers greater scope to replace EU volumes. Bangladesh provides the clearest example of a market that has already shifted almost completely away from European supply ( see table ). At the same time, Bangladesh sharply increased purchases from Asian and other deep-sea suppliers. Japanese shipments rose from 383,000t in 2022 to 1.36mn t in 2025, while Australia supplied 762,000t and Singapore 534,000t that year. The US remained another major supplier at 1.33mn t. Scrap that can no longer be exported to affected non-OECD markets would meanwhile have to find alternative outlets, potentially increasing availability within the EU and in other accessible export markets, including Turkey. By Katya Ourakova EU 27 share of total HS 7204 imports % Destination 2022 2023 2024 2025 1H26 Egypt 79.2 24.8 80.3 79.6 85.2 Morocco 97.2 85.3 99.2 99.8 99.5 Pakistan 45.5 49.1 38.5 38.7 39.9 Bangladesh 30.8 19.8 4.2 0.4 0.5 India 26.2 31.1 23.1 19.7 22.7 EU 27 ferrous scrap exports mn t Destination 2022 2023 2024 2025 1H26 Egypt 2.815 0.003 0.304 2.888 0.501 Morocco 0.698 0.851 1.084 1.524 0.860 Pakistan 1.222 0.975 0.953 1.327 0.609 Bangladesh 1.596 0.923 0.216 0.022 0.013 India 2.196 3.661 2.169 1.825 0.703 — Global Trade Tracker (GTT), HS 7204 Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Mexico trade balance swings to surplus in August
Mexico trade balance swings to surplus in August
Mexico City, 29 September (Argus) — Mexico's trade balance swung to a $605mn surplus in August as imports cooled faster than exports. The result, reported Monday by statistics agency Inegi, marks a shift from the $848mn deficit recorded in July, marking a fifth month of surpluses in six months. Inegi said the shift in the balance resulted from a widening of the non-oil trade surplus—which rose to $4.05bn in August from $2.81bn in July—and a smaller oil-related trade deficit, which narrowed from $3.66bn to $3.44bn over the same period. Total exports fell by 4.2pc to $78bn in August from $81.4bn the prior month, with total imports down by 5.9pc to $77.4bn from the prior month. Still, exports were up by 40pc from a year earlier while imports were up by 34pc. The monthly pullback was driven almost entirely by oil, with petroleum exports down by 20.4pc to $1.58bn in August from the prior month. On the oil price context, the Mexican Mix crude price rose to $75.98/bl in August, up $0.86 from July and $13.64 above August 2025, even as crude export volumes fell to 351,000 b/d from 510,000 b/d in July and 594,000 b/d a year earlier. Non-oil exports fell by 3.8pc to $76.4bn. Automotive exports fell by 3.3pc to $15.9bn. Farm exports were down by 12.5pc. Capital goods imports led the decline in imports, falling by 10.5pc to $5bn while intermediate goods imports fell by 5.8pc to $63.3bn, with the petroleum linked share of that down by 7.9pc. Consumption goods fell by 4.2pc to $9.1bn. Mexican exports "will continue to be sustained by the boom in products associated with AI," Banorte said, but trade uncertainty will deepen in coming months as questions mount over the future of the USMCA free trade agreement between the US, Mexico and Canada. Mexican deputy economy minister for foreign trade Luis Rosendo Gutierrez said on 23 September the fourth round of US-Mexico bilateral trade discussions, originally scheduled for this week, have been postponed, citing scheduling conflicts tied to an upcoming G20 summit. By James Young Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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