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.
Latest scrap news
Browse the latest market moving news on the scrap industry.
Rio Tinto faces Australian iron ore shipment delays
Rio Tinto faces Australian iron ore shipment delays
Sydney, 24 January (Argus) — UK-Australian miner Rio Tinto is facing shipping disruptions in Western Australia (WA) after Cyclone Sean damaged a railcar dumper as it swept down the state's coast, the firm announced today. A dumper at Rio's East Intercourse Island (EII) port facility — a part of the Pilbara Port Authority's (PPA) Port Dampier — was flooded on 20 January, sustaining some damage, when 274mm of rain poured down on WA over a single day. EEI handled 45mn t of Rio Tinto's iron ore shipments in 2024. "Initial indications suggest the dumper at EII could be offline for three to four weeks, as rectifications works are required to repair flood damage," the company said on 24 January. Rio Tinto said its overall 2025 production guidance of between 323mn-338mn t of iron ore remains unchanged, but the disruption may affect first-quarter shipments. WA's coastal areas received the bulk of Cyclone Sean's rainfall earlier this week, limiting disruptions to the state's lucrative iron ore mines. Rio Tinto operates seven railcar dumpers across WA, six of which remain operational. The company will continue to move iron ore out of the state over the next month, using its other dumpers. Cyclone Sean forced the PPA to shutter its facilities at Port Hedland, Dampier, Ashburton, Varanus Island, and Cape Preston West on 18 January. All five of the sites resumed operations on 20 January, after the Bureau of Meteorology advised that Cyclone Sean was moving away from WA's Pilbara region. By Avinash Govind Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Eurofer seeks 50pc cut to flat steel quotas
Eurofer seeks 50pc cut to flat steel quotas
London, 22 January (Argus) — EU import quotas for flat carbon steel should be cut by 50pc to create a "healthier" balance between domestic supply and imports, European steel association Eurofer said in a filing to the European Commission as part of its functional safeguard review. The Eurofer response was sent on 10 January, but only made public on the case file today, much to the chagrin of importers. The last day for feedback was 13 January, after distributors' association Eurometal requested an extension, which was granted for just three days, over a weekend. It also suggested that there should be individual quotas on Chinese product, even where dumping duties are in place, and that Chinese material processed elsewhere be counted against this quota with dumping duties applied. The current level of imports is resulting in excess supply of 8.75mn t — 4mn t on hot-rolled coil (HRC), 1.2mn t on cold-rolled coil (CRC) and 2.8mn t on hot-dip galvanised (HDG), Eurofer said. Eurofer reiterated its belief that 25pc duties are not sufficient and that an average rate of 34pc should be applied, with no pro-rata duty on the first day of a new quarter. It also said the 15pc country caps imposed on the other countries' quota for HRC be applied to other categories, such as CRC and HDG. On CRC, a 10pc cap should be imposed, it said. On HRC, that other countries' cap should be lowered from 15pc to 7pc. The carry-over of unused quotas should also be stopped, if not capped, the association said, adding that there should be no liberalisation of quota volume in the last year of the safeguard. By Colin Richardson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Large N.EU mill may further hike HRC offer price
Large N.EU mill may further hike HRC offer price
London, 21 January (Argus) — A large north European steelmaker is contemplating increasing its recently tabled hot-rolled coil offer of €600/t to €620/t. The mill cited strong sales via its online platform, a reduction in import penetration and some increase in apparent demand as the main reasons for the potential move. There has been no strengthening in real demand, but supply tightness from 1 April — led by the ongoing safeguard review and the anti-dumping case on Egypt, Japan, India and Vietnam — will support prices, one executive at the company said. "Even though the distribution market is not there yet, we're gaining traction [with increases] and they need to get on board. From a real demand perspective, there is no step up, but the price strength should come from the supply equation, and we do expect looking at imports there will be more tightness there", the executive added. In their discussions with the European Commission, mills have asked for an overall quota reset as demand has fallen 20pc since the safeguard started, and duty-free volumes have been liberalised by around 15pc. They have also requested an end to pro-rata duties on the first day of a quota resetting, and for a higher duty above 25pc. Producers have also requested the 15pc other countries cap, currently applied to hot-rolled coil and wire rod, be rolled out on downstream coil products. The market has moved up by €18.75/t since returning from the Christmas holiday, according to Argus ' benchmark northwest EU HRC index, which has increased from €558.25/t to €577/t since 2 January. Some traders have been gearing up for an increase in prices on the back of curtailed import supply, but service centres are still grappling with low end-demand and competition for sheet sales. Egypt, Japan, India and Vietnam have represented 40-58pc of the EU import market at the reopening of quarterly quotas recently, so any dumping duties could have a meaningful impact on their volumes. The safeguard review could also see overall duty-free imports drop by around 20pc, according to some market participants. Some suggest HRC imports could fall from 8mn t and above to around 5mn t, on the back of the review and the dumping investigation. By Colin Richardson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Export opportunities crucial for Turkish mills in 2025
Export opportunities crucial for Turkish mills in 2025
London, 17 January (Argus) — Waning prospects for the Turkish domestic rebar market means domestic steel mills are keeping a close eye on developments in potential key export destinations, as well as in key global demand drivers China and the US. The recent ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas could lead to a recovery of Turkish exports to Israel in the coming months, while there is some expectation that the Chinese government will announce further stimulus packages once Donald Trump is inaugurated as US president on 20 January for a second term. At the same time, mills producers will be keen for the Turkish government to persuade Syria's new government to soften its stance on its steep hike in import duties announced earlier this week. Post-earthquake reconstruction work in southern Turkey is not likely to provide the same level of support to prices this year that it did last year. Earthquakes struck in the Iskenderun region of Turkey and in northern Syria in February 2023, eventually resulting in strong demand for rebar used for reconstruction work throughout most of last year. But the premium enjoyed by Iskenderun-based steelmakers as a result has become a discount in recent weeks as demand has faded, and with local supply so far failing to respond. In housing projects, rebar is required mainly in the foundations of buildings, and so even for projects that are not yet completed, the spike in rebar demand in the region may have run its course. Recent acquisitions in the Iskenderun region by major producers Habas and Tosyali are squeezing local prices, with Tosyali's July acquisition, the former Bastug steelworks, currently operating at 75pc capacity, or 3,000 t/d, according to local sources. There could be further consolidations and also an idling of capacity in the Turkish market in the coming months, as smaller companies struggle against tepid demand and elevated costs. Tosyali is considering making a bid for Izmir-based longs producer Ege Celik, market sources said. The export market will continue to be a challenge for Turkish suppliers this year, as it has been for the past few years, and Trump's return to office is set to push the world towards more trade barriers. The Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, approved by the Israeli parliament today, could lead to an outlet for Turkish steel, as the Turkish government is expected to quietly allow companies to export to Israel again if fighting does not resume. Before the conflict broke out, Israel was a major destination for Turkish rebar. The Turkish trade ministry today said it will meet with Syrian representatives next week to pursue a free trade deal, following the new Syrian government's decision to raise import tariffs steeply with immediate effect, with duties on some commodities increasing fourfold. If the higher tariffs remain in place, it could significantly dent southern Turkish rebar producers' hopes of selling large volumes to Syria from later this year onwards as the country starts to rebuild following several years of civil war. Overall, Turkish mills will be more reliant on export opportunities this year than in 2024, with much ultimately depending on the extent to which Chinese exports continue to pressure the global steel market. The International Rebar Exporters' Association today said its hopes for a real resurgence in Chinese domestic steel demand were muted, implying that Chinese export volumes are likely to remain elevated after hitting record levels in 2024. By Brendan Kjellberg-Motton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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