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.
Sign up nowLatest scrap news
Browse the latest market moving news on the scrap industry.
US steel contract talks favor sellers for 2027
US steel contract talks favor sellers for 2027
Pittsburgh, 13 October (Argus) — US flat-rolled steel mills are using the exceedingly constrained supply environment the industry faces as leverage to shape 2027 contract negotiations on more favorable terms. Mills are looking to optimize contract portfolios for next year by reducing discounts on index-linked deals, capturing full product extras and reducing exposure to customers that struggle to meet obligations or do so inconsistently. During a recent webinar hosted by Argus , attendee responses to survey questions highlighted the more restrictive, higher-priced environment heading into 2027. The survey found that 56pc of respondents anticipated having less contractual volume next year than in 2026. The bulk of respondents, 85pc, said they expect discounts on index-linked deals to be 4pc or lower, with a little over half of them looking for discounts of 3-4pc and a third of respondents expecting 1-2pc. Among the limited number of respondents expecting index-linked contract discounts above 4pc, most capped their expectations at 5pc. This represents a noticeable reduction in discounts associated with index-linked deals compared with historical levels. Mills have historically offered discounts ranging from 6-10pc and, in some cases, even higher. The discount level is often partially contingent on the monthly tonnage and product mix of the contract. However, the discount level on a dollar-per-short ton (st) basis has continued to widen over the past 12 months as the US market has witnessed steel prices rise to the third-highest level in Argus' history. Tariffs blocking out previously competitive imports and robust domestic demand, mostly from data centers and the energy market, have driven the sustained price appreciation. The high-price environment is not expected to waver, according to survey respondents. The survey also found that more than 85pc of respondents expected US hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices would be at or above $1,200/st by January 2027. Within this segment, more than half of respondents, 53pc, expected prices to be $1,201-$1,300/st, while 32pc believed prices would be above $1,300/st at the start of next year. The survey results were collected at the beginning of October, when the US Argus Steel Index HRC price was $1,261.75/st. Price indications from buyers in the following days put prices above that level and encroaching on $1,300/st in some cases. Still, market participants anticipate that the supply situation could begin to loosen in late first-quarter or second-quarter 2027 and are eyeing this period for a potential price correction that could bring more balance to the supply-and-demand landscape. By Aaron May 2027 US flat steel contract expectations Expected index-linked contract discount Share of respondents 1-2pc discount against contract 33pc 3-4pc dicsount against contract 52pc 4-5pc discount against contract 9pc Over 5pc discount against contract 6pc Expected HRC price by January 2027 Below $1,100/st 6pc $1,100-$1,200/st 9pc $1,201-$1,300/st 53pc Above $1,300/st 32pc Data compiled from webinar survey participants Argus US Flat-Rolled Contract Negotiations Webinar Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Japan's scrap export tender rises in October
Japan's scrap export tender rises in October
Shanghai, 9 October (Argus) — Japanese scrap dealer cooperative Kanto Tetsugen's export tender price rose sharply in October, supported by strong buying interest from Bangladesh. A total of 20,000t of H2 scrap was awarded at ¥52,077/t ($329.15/t) free alongside ship (fas) today, up by ¥3,964/t from September. The result was equivalent to ¥53,077/t fob, significantly exceeding initial market expectations. Most market participants had expected the tender to settle at around ¥50,000/t fas, given that domestic scrap prices in the Kanto region stood at ¥49,000/t. Although Tokyo Steel had raised domestic collection prices three times since 19 September, overseas buyers had increased bids only gradually because of a slow recovery in finished steel sales. The October tender cargo is expected to be shipped to Bangladesh, as in previous months, at an estimated price of around $405/t cfr. "The trader that won the tender might be betting on lower freight rates at the time of shipment; otherwise, the cfr price would not be sufficient given current freight costs," a Japanese trader said. Buyers in other markets indicated that the tender price was too high for them to follow. They preferred to wait for more competitive offers from other scrap suppliers or to consider billet instead. The Argus daily assessment for H2 scrap fob Japan was ¥50,300/t on 8 October. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US sets AD margins for 2 Turkish rebar firms
US sets AD margins for 2 Turkish rebar firms
Houston, 6 October (Argus) — The US Department of Commerce has preliminarily applied a 13.11pc antidumping (AD) duty margin for Turkish rebar producers Colakoglu and Ekinciler following its review of imports in the year through June 2025. Commerce individually examined Colakoglu and assigned the same AD margin to Ekinciler, which was not individually reviewed. Commerce also rescinded the review for Turkish producers Habas, Icdas and Kaptan after finding no reviewable suspended entries during the review period. The preliminary margin is below the 18.87pc AD duty assigned to Colakoglu in the final results of a previous review covering July 2023 through June 2024. Turkish rebar exporters without company-specific rates are currently subject to a 3.9pc AD rate that was established in a January 2022 amended final determination. By Matt Martin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Iowa passes tax incentives for steel mill
Iowa passes tax incentives for steel mill
Pittsburgh, 5 October (Argus) — Iowa has amended its economic development program to provide tax incentives for Minnesota-based iron ore miner Mesabi Metallics to build a $15bn steel mill, the governor's office said last week. The program, called the Major Economic Growth Attraction, was designed to help the state compete for $1bn-plus developments. The original tax scheme created incentives of up to 5pc each for two eligible businesses a parent company planned to start, but the new language passed into law late last week now allows incentives of up to 10pc for a single qualifying investment if it is in a rural county. The incentives under the law are spread out evenly over 10 years and are transferable. Mesabi Metallics' proposed 10mn short tons (st)/yr electric arc furnace qualifies qualifies for the higher incentives under the new law because it will be built in a rural part of southeastern Iowa. US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick previously said Mesabi Metallics' investment was not dependent on local tax breaks at a 28 September White House press conference touting the plan. Iowa state house speaker Pat Grassley said any incentives for the mill construction will not be granted until the facility is actually operational. The mill is slated for completion by 2030 and will rely on iron ore from the company's mine in Nashwauk, Minnesota. By Aaron May Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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Key price assessments
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