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.
Australia’s Qld coal exploration falls for fifth time
Australia’s Qld coal exploration falls for fifth time
Sydney, 2 December (Argus) — Australian developers spent A$55mn ($36mn) on coal exploration projects in Queensland — the country's main coking coal-producing region — over July-September, down 7.9pc on the year, marking the fifth consecutive quarterly decline, due to weak prices and high royalties. Mining firms have invested A$145mn in coal exploration projects since the start of 2025, down 22pc on the year, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show. Producers in the state have faced elevated royalty rates and coal price volatility this year, reducing incentives for new investment. Argus ' metallurgical coal premium hard low-volatile fob Australia price fell from $200.80/t on 2 January to $166/t on 20 March, before recovering to $189.25/t by the end of September. But the modest April-September price recovery has offered little relief. Australian miners QCoal and BHP both placed Queensland mines into care and maintenance in September, citing coal price weakness and high royalty rates. BHP — which operates mines through the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance joint venture — also told investors on 19 August that the state's royalty regime limits the financial benefit of price increases . The company halted new coal investments in Queensland soon after the government reformed its progressive royalty regime in 2022, which raised marginal royalty rates at most price levels . BHP may not been alone. Whitehaven Coal , which operates mines in Queensland and New South Wales, said in late August that the state's royalty regime encourages producers to invest outside Queensland. Three other producers (see table) have sought royalty relief or downsized operations since early 2025, citing royalty and cost pressures. More broadly, coal producers' spending on business purchases , community payments, and government payments fell by A$5.2bn in the 2024-25 financial year to 30 June. This likely reflects a minor investment decline, as royalty payments also dropped by about A$5bn over the year. Queensland's government has pledged to maintain the state's current royalty regime — introduced before it took office — until at least the next state election in 2028. "[Queensland's] Government is providing certainty for the coal industry in Queensland with faster decisions, streamlined approvals and a stable royalty regime, exactly as we committed before the election," state treasurer David Janetzki told Argus on 2 December. By Avinash Govind Queensland Coal Exploration A$mn Jul - Sep '25 Jul - Sep '24 y-o-y Change (%) Jan - Sep '25 Jan - Sep '24 y-o-y Change (%) Exploration 58 63 -7.9 145 187 -22 Australian Bureau of Statistics Responses to Queensland financial challenges Company Response BHP Placed Saraji South into care and maintanence, avoiding new developments QCoal Closed its Cook Colliery mine Whitehaven Coal Incentivised to direct investment towards New South Wales Coronado Sought royalty relief, negotiated $150mn thermal coal-based financing deal Bowen Coking Coal Sought royaty deferral, entered voluntary administration Bravus Agreed to invest A$50mn into Carmichael mine in exchange for a royalty deferral Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Australia's QCoal to keep producing after mine closure
Australia's QCoal to keep producing after mine closure
Sydney, 2 December (Argus) — Australian coking coal producer QCoal will maintain its Northern Hub and Byerwen coking coal complexes in Queensland, after the 28 November closure of its 1mn t/yr Cook Colliery. QCoal's Cook Colliery closure has no impact on its other operations, a spokesperson told Argus on 2 December. The company can produce up to 10mn t/yr of hard coking coal at Byerwen, a joint venture with Japanese producer JFE Steel. It also produces about 6mn t/yr of thermal and hard coking coal at its Northern Hub complex. QCoal closed Cook Colliery's final production unit on 28 November because of high production costs, market pressures and high royalty rates, the company said at the time. It will move the underground mine into care and maintenance, the company added. QCoal closed the Cook Colliery's first production unit for similar reasons in September. The company is not the only Queensland coal producer facing production challenges. Australian producer BHP moved its Saraji South mine into care and maintenance in November because of royalty rates and coal prices. Other Queensland coal producers are also on capital strike but not saying so publicly, Gordon Galt, director at investment firm Taurus Funds Management, told Argus . Their spending on business purchases, community payments and government payments fell by A$5.3bn ($3.5bn) over the July 2024-June 2025 financial year. Queensland's royalty revenue fell by A$5bn over the same period, because of low coal prices. Producers are also looking to sell or secure financing for around six mines because of cost pressures, a market participant told Argus . By Avinash Govind Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Japan's Nippon Steel shuts Muroran mill because of fire
Japan's Nippon Steel shuts Muroran mill because of fire
Tokyo, 1 December (Argus) — Japan's largest steel producer by capacity Nippon Steel stopped operating the Muroran blast furnace in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido today because of a fire. Fire hit Muroran steel mill's hot blast stove, a part of the blast furnace, early on 1 December, the company said. The fire was extinguished, but Nippon Steel is unsure when it can resume operation of the blast furnace. Nippon Steel operates one blast furnace at the Muroran steel mill. The steel mill has a crude steel output capacity of 1.24mn t/yr. The mill mainly manufactures steel products for carmakers. The company had only resumed normal operation of the Muroran blast furnace in late November, after repairing a steel slag leak in September. Japan's crude steel demand to be 20.23mn t in October-December, 2.4pc lower than in the same period a year ago, according to the country's trade and industry ministry. Demand from the construction sector is expected to fall because of rising material costs and labour shortages, while a recovery in demand from carmakers is also unlikely, Meti said. By Nanami Oki Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Japan’s scrap exports hit four-year high in October
Japan’s scrap exports hit four-year high in October
Shanghai, 27 November (Argus) — Japanese ferrous scrap exports rose further in October, reaching the highest level since April 2021, driven by sustained demand from Vietnam and Bangladesh. Exports totalled 749,000 t in October, up by 2.9pc from September and 35pc on the year, according to customs data. Cumulative shipments reached 6.42mn t in January-October, a 23pc increase compared with the same period in 2024. Vietnam remained the largest export destination. Shipments to the country rose by 4.5pc on the month to 320,000 t in October. Vietnamese mills favoured Japanese scrap for its stable supply, quality, and shorter lead times compared with deep-sea cargoes. Exports to Bangladesh exceeded 150,000 t for the second consecutive month in October, because Bangladeshi mills shifted some demand to Japanese scrap on more competitive pricing. But activity slowed in November on the back of ongoing payment issues and pre-election uncertainty. Exports to South Korea and Taiwan declined on the year in January–October, reflecting sluggish domestic steel demand and low production levels. Most October shipments had been booked in September, when Japanese domestic scrap prices were below workable levels in the seaborne market, and overseas buyers were confident about the steel market in the final quarter of the year. Exports in coming months are likely to retreat on the back of an increase in Japanese domestic prices. Japanese domestic scrap prices have trended upward since October alongside the weakening yen. Collection prices of H2 at the Utsunomiya plant rose by ¥4,000/t ($25.64/t) to ¥43,500/t delivered to mills over 3 October -19 November. In contrast, the Argus H2 fob Japan assessment increased by only ¥2,400/t, because overseas buyers were hesitant to follow the trend on the back of thin profit margins. Market participants expected domestic scrap prices to remain firm on strong domestic demand. Nippon Steel and Nakayama Steel plan to build a 1.2 mn t/yr electric arc furnace slab steel mill , targeting operations after 2030. The project underscores the growing importance of ferrous scrap. Japan's ferrous scrap exports t Country October m-o-m % ± y-o-y % ± Jan-Oct y-oy % ± Vietnam 319,950 4.5 53.7 2,783,545 38.8 Bangladesh 159,442 1.9 51.7 1,151,758 129.2 South Korea 95,969 -27.3 2.3 1,054,159 -20.5 Taiwan 32,649 12.8 -51.9 364,870 -33.0 Others 141,463 35.1 72.2 1,069,446 25.4 Total 749,473 2.9 34.5 6,423,777 22.8 — Japan customs Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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