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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Browse the latest market moving news on the scrap industry.
US job growth halves in June to 57,000
US job growth halves in June to 57,000
Houston, 2 July (Argus) — The US added 57,000 jobs in June, about half the number analysts expected, while revisions slashed gains from the prior two months. Job gains in May were revised down by 43,000 to 129,000, and gains for April were revised down by 31,000 to 148,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Job gains have averaged about 36,000/month over the last 12 months, BLS said. The job growth in June compared with about 110,000 median jobs forecast by analysts surveyed by Trading Economics. The unemployment rate fell to 4.2pc in June from 4.3pc, BLS said. "The recent upturn in labor demand now looks much weaker, after downward revisions," Pantheon Macroeconomics said in a note. Surveys and job openings measures "suggest that payrolls will continue to rise slowly." Average hourly earnings increased by 3.5pc in June from a year prior. Professional and business services added 36,000 jobs in June, while social assistance added 25,000 jobs. Health care added 22,000 jobs. Government added 8,000 jobs. Manufacturing added 3,000 jobs, while mining lost 4,000 jobs, with oil and gas extraction down by 800 jobs. Construction added 11,000 jobs. Computer and electronic products added 1,500 jobs. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Japan steel groups slam new EU safeguard measure
Japan steel groups slam new EU safeguard measure
Tokyo, 2 July (Argus) — Five Japanese steel industry groups issued a statement on 1 July calling the EU's new steel safeguard measure "inappropriate and regrettable," and stating that the measure is unfair to Japan given its economic ties with the EU. The new regulation , which came into effect on 1 July, includes establishing tariff-free quotas for 18.3mn t/yr and introducing a 50pc out-of-quota duty for 26 categories of steel. The regulation reserves 50pc, or 9.15mn t, of the 18.3mn t annual EU import quota for countries with a free trade agreement (FTA). The remaining 50pc is available for all countries, with or without an FTA. The tariff quota for Japan has been set at 800,000t, which falls well short of the 2022-24 average import volume of around 1.5mn t/yr, the groups said. The groups said the measure is unfair to Japan, considering its economic partnership agreement (EPA) with the EU. They urged the Japanese government to keep negotiating with the EU. They also asked Tokyo to consider using dispute settlement procedures under World Trade Organization agreements and the Japan-EU EPA. The five groups are the Japan Iron and Steel Federation, the Special Steel Association of Japan, the Japan Stainless Steel Association, the Japan Wire Products Association, and the Non-Integrated Steel Producers' Association. The groups also noted that the EU opened an anti-dumping (AD) investigation into hot-rolled flat steel products from Japan, Egypt, India and Vietnam in August 2024. Imports of hot-rolled flat steel products from Japan had already dropped after the EU tightened its old safeguard measure in July 2024. The groups criticised the EU for ignoring this trade-restrictive effect when it found injury and imposed final AD duties in September 2025. The EU also launched a separate AD investigation in September 2025 into cold-rolled flat steel products from five countries and entities — Japan, India, Taiwan, Turkey and Vietnam. The groups raised a similar concern, saying AD duties could again be imposed without properly accounting for the trade-restrictive effect of the tightened safeguard measure on those products. The groups said the EU's trade measures are hindering smooth steel trade between Japan and the EU. Japan's government also raised concerns about the EU measures in its "2026 Report on Compliance by Major Trading Partners with Trade Agreements", published in June. The report pointed to inconsistencies with international rules, including WTO agreements and the Japan-EU EPA. The groups said the EU's unfair trade measures are hindering the smooth export of steel products by Japanese companies to the European market. They called on the Japanese government to pursue persistent negotiations with the EU. They also urged Tokyo to work toward an early resolution of the issue. By Fumito Nagase Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Calif. advances metal shredder regulation bill
Calif. advances metal shredder regulation bill
Pittsburgh, 1 July (Argus) — A California legislative panel advanced a bill on 30 June to centralize metal shredder regulations with a single agency while not classifying metal shredding sites as hazardous waste facilities. The bill would make the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) the central regulatory authority over metal shredding facilities and force metal shredders to get a permit with the agency. And, importantly, metal shredding facilities would not be classified as hazardous waste sites under the bill. An environmental committee in California's lower house approved the bill on 30 June, sending it to the appropriations panel. The full state assembly would have to approve it before it reaches the governor's desk. Metal shredders and California regulators have tussled for years over DTSC's hazardous waste authority at shredding facilities. The state's largest shredders, including SA Recycling, Sims Metal, Radius Recycling, and American Iron & Metal, support the bill because it clarifies the current regulations and largely excludes shredding facilities from hazardous waste laws. A handful of smaller shredders voiced opposition to the bill at a hearing on 30 June because it would put in place another layer of regulation that they view as more suited toward mega-shredders at coastal export yards. Environmental groups, including the Natural Resource Defense Council, opposed the bill because they said it would exempt shredders from hazardous waste laws and put looser standards into place. A key point of contention is the disposal of a waste byproduct of shredding. Larger shredders that can process automobiles tend to treat their shredder byproduct with chemicals before disposing of it. DTSC has scrutinized the proper chemical treatment and disposal of that waste in the past. Smaller shredders, which recycle substantially less scrap, do not shred autos and typically process cleaner metal. They containerize their shredder residue and ship it to disposal sites. The governor vetoed a similar bill last year because it lacked "clear definitions regarding the materials processed at these facilities, including what ‘hazardous waste' requirements are applicable," he wrote in the veto note. The current version of the bill attempts to clarify that discrepancy. "There is no state in the nation that utilizes hazardous waste as the standard from which they regulate metal shredders," bill author Sen. Anna Caballero (D) said. "This will be the highest standard anywhere in the country." By James Marshall Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US targets Ti plate with IperionX award
US targets Ti plate with IperionX award
Houston, 1 July (Argus) — The US Defense Department (DoD) awarded titanium producer IperionX up to $6.6mn to support production of titanium plate and other components for use in military applications. Financing will be delivered in two phases, with the company receiving $200,000 up front for project scoping and test work before potentially getting the balance to pay for new equipment to scale output at IperionX's manufacturing facility in Virginia, the North Carolina-based company said on Wednesday. IperionX expects to complete both phases within two years. The award is funded through the Defense secretary's submarine workforce and industrial base program and forms part of a broader DoD initiative to onshore domestic titanium manufacturing, IperionX said. The company expanded its research and development facility in Utah earlier this year to hold additional equipment that will be used to demonstrate its processes in making titanium plate. IperionX utilizes both sintering and additive manufacturing technology to produce near-net-shape components and intermediate products from scrap-based titanium powder. IperionX also received an order to produce prototype titanium fasteners for use on the US Army's joint light tactical vehicle. The company did not disclose the value of the order, considering it immaterial, but noted that validation of the prototype program could lead to wider adoption on land-based military vehicles. By Alex Nicoll Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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