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 inflation holds steady, energy rises in August
US inflation holds steady, energy rises in August
Houston, 11 September (Argus) — US headline inflation held steady in August while energy prices ticked up, maintaining pressure on the Federal Reserve for a likely rate hike next week as it battles to stem inflationary pressures uncorked by the Mideast Gulf war. The consumer price index (CPI) rose at an annual 3.4pc pace in August, according to Labor Department data released today. That followed a 3.4pc pace in July that was down from 3.5pc in June. Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy, eased to a 2.4pc annual pace, compared with a 2.5pc rate in July. "A September rate hike is now very likely, but a tightening cycle looks unwarranted," Pantheon Macroeconomics said in a note after the report. "We think the most likely outcome is that September's rate hike will be a one-time tightening." Prior to the report, the CME FedWatch tool showed a greater than 70pc probability Federal Reserve policymakers will raise the target rate by a quarter point at its meeting on 16 September. The Fed has kept its target rate unchanged through five meetings this year amid mounting tariff and Gulf war uncertainty after lowering it three times late last year. The energy index rose by an annual 16.3pc in August, compared with 14.7pc in July. Energy commodities rose by 28pc in August compared with 24.7pc in July. Gasoline rose by 27.4pc on the year, up from 24.6pc the prior month. Fuel oil rose by 52pc following a 39.1pc gain in July. Piped gas services rose by 4.4pc on the year, following 4.3pc in July. The food index rose at an annual 2.7pc in August following a 3pc pace in July. Shelter rose at a 3pc pace, slowing from 3.2pc in July. Services less energy services, considered a core reading of service prices, was unchanged at a 3pc pace. New vehicle prices rose by 0.6pc in August on the year, compared with a 0.5pc rate in July, while used vehicles prices fell by 2.4pc in August compared with a 1.9pc decline in July. Medical care services rose at a 2.5pc annual rate in August compared with a 2.7pc pace in July. Transportation services rose by 2.4pc in August, slowing from 2.9pc. Airline fares rose by an annual 23pc in August, compared with 25.5pc the prior month. On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.4pc in August, after creeping up by 0.1pc in July, while the core index rose by 0.3pc for the month after a 0.2pc gain the month prior. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Australia's Pilbara iron ore exports rise in August
Australia's Pilbara iron ore exports rise in August
Sydney, 11 September (Argus) — Iron ore exports from the ports of Port Hedland and Dampier in the Pilbara region of Western Australia (WA) rose by 2pc on the year in August because of higher shipments to South Korea and Indonesia. Producers shipped 59.4mn t of iron ore from Port Hedland and Dampier in August, port data released on 11 September show (see table) . Exports from Port Hedland rose by 5pc on the year to 46.6mn t, while shipments from Dampier fell by 7pc on the year to 12.8mn t. Port Hedland's exports to China, the dominant buyer of Australian iron ore, fell by 2pc on the year to 38mn t. China's iron ore imports were up on the year in August , but the increase was partially driven by record shipments from the Simandou project in Guinea, which shipped its first cargo in December 2025. Declining steel production also continued to curb iron ore consumption in the country. Port Hedland exported 4.1mn t of iron ore to South Korea, up by 105pc on the year. South Korean iron ore demand was likely supported by an increase in domestic automobile production. The port shipped 27.7mn t to South Korea in January-August, up by 13pc on the year. But the country's transition from blast furnaces to electric-arc furnaces, which use scrap metal instead of iron ore as a feedstock, could weigh on future iron ore demand. Shipments to Indonesia rose by 83pc on the year to 1.1mn t in August. Port Hedland shipped 5.3mn t of iron ore to Indonesia in January-August, up by 36pc on the year. Steel demand from southeast Asia is growing structurally due to urbanisation, population growth, ongoing infrastructure and housing programmes, and growth in steel-intensive manufacturing, which should support demand for iron ore. The two ports shipped 474mn t of iron ore in January-August, flat on the year. Argus last assessed 58pc iron ore fines at $85.30/dry metric tonne (dmt) cfr Qingdao on 10 September, down by $2.10/t on the week. By Emma Partis Pilbara iron ore exports mn t Aug '26 Aug '25 y-o-y ± % Jan-Aug '26 Jan-Aug '25 YTD ± % Port Hedland China 38 39 -2 318.2 325.3 -2 Indonesia 1 1 83 5.3 3.9 36 Japan 2 2 0 14.6 13.6 7 South Korea 4 2 105 27.7 24.5 13 Total* 47 44 5 375.5 378.3 -1 Dampier Total 13 14 -7 98.5 95.8 3 Combined Total 59 58 2 474.0 474.1 0 *Total includes countries not listed Source: Pilbara Ports Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Argentina's inflation runs at 33.5pc in August
Argentina's inflation runs at 33.5pc in August
Montevideo, 10 September (Argus) — Argentina's inflation ticked down to an annual 33.5pc in August, after two consecutive increases, the statistics agency Indec reported Thursday. The consumer price index (CPI) edged lower from 33.8pc in July and matched the number for June. Inflation continues to be driven by the four main categories, with housing prices up 49.1pc in the past 12 months, transportation up 38.2pc, food/beverages up 34.9pc, and hospitality up 34.6pc. On a monthly basis, CPI came in at 1.7pc in August, down from 2.1pc the previous month. It was the lowest monthly rate since June 2025. Monthly inflation peaked at 3.4pc in, strongly influenced by the hike in international fuel prices triggered by the start of the Mideast Gulf war. President Javier Milei's government forecast inflation at 10pc for the year, a target it will not meet. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts inflation at 30.4pc this year. While inflation eased in August, the administration has come under fire for falling manufacturing output and rising unemployment. The Indec reported this week that manufacturing was down 4.9pc in July from a year prior. It has declined for 10 of the past 12 months. Unemployment was at 7.8pc in the first quarter of this year, up from 7.5pc in the final quarter of 2025. -By Lucien Chauvin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
NW EU HRC prices expected to rise
NW EU HRC prices expected to rise
London, 10 September (Argus) — Northwest European hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices are expected to settle at €750-800/t base ex-works in the fourth quarter, a survey recently conducted by Argus shows. By the end of the year, 44pc of respondents saw prices at €750-800/t, with 32pc at €700-750/t and 15pc at €800/t and above following the webinar survey on 8 September. The rest of respondents said they expect prices to fall below €700/t ex-works. Earlier in the year, many market participants said they expect prices to surpass €800/t ex-works, given import supply constraints. But demand has not picked up so far in September and stock overhang from previous purchases has reshaped expectations. Buyers continue to report relatively high inventories and an inability to pass increases downstream due to poor purchasing activity. The combination of the carbon border adjustment mechanism and new import quota measures has led to price growth, but this has been more contained than what was previously envisaged. Since the announcement of the new safeguard measures on 30 June, Argus' ex-works northwest EU HRC index has risen by €71.75/t to €736/t today. Blast furnace capacity utilisation in Europe only rose by just over one percentage point to 68.58pc over June 27-August 22, according to data from Navigate Commodities. Ramping up production has not been easy for mills, which have struggled with production issues. A large portion of surveyed market participants — 48pc — said they also do not expect a review of the current quotas over the next six months. The European Commission is currently in the process of assessing whether the product scope of the steel measure needs to be amended, with the consultation for that running out at the end of September. By Carlo Da Cas Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Spotlight content
Browse the latest thought leadership produced by our global team of experts.
La recuperación del mercado del acero en México y su giro hacia el fortalecimiento interno.
Blog - 14/05/26The calm in the chaos: a US steel sector seasoned by disruption
Key takeaways from the recent Argus Steel Forum and discussion around the US Steel industry's ability to cope with recent market upheaval.
US scrap markets react to Middle East aluminum disruption
Explore our scrap products
Understand price movements across ferrous and non-ferrous scrap, including the regional drivers and limiters with focuses views of the US, Europe and Asia. Explore our related services below.
Key price assessments
Argus prices are recognised by the market as trusted and reliable indicators of the real market value. Explore some of our most widely used and relevant price assessments.