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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Mexican steel trade down on tariffs in Jan
Mexican steel trade down on tariffs in Jan
Houston, 6 March (Argus) — Mexican steel imports and exports fell sharply on the year in January in response to both the US' and Mexico's own steel import tariffs, the latest data from steel chamber Canacero showed. January Mexican steel imports fell by 21pc to 793,000 metric tonnes (t) in January year on year after Mexico imposed import tariffs on more than 1,400 goods from non-trade treaty countries on 1 January. Tariffs on more than almost 300 steel and scrap grades rose to 35pc from a previous range of 0-35pc, depending on the specific grade. Mexico also imposed as low as 20pc and up to 50pc import tariffs on a handful of specific steel and scrap grades. Steel exports fell by 47pc to 166,000t in January compared with January 2025, pressured mainly by the US' announcement of 25pc steel import tariffs on 20 January, which were imposed on 12 March then doubled to 50pc on 30 May. The US remained Mexico's largest buyer of steel but its share of total Mexican steel exports fell to 43pc in January from 79pc in January 2025. Mexican steel production extended a two-year long slide, falling by 16pc to 1.343mn t in January compared to January 2025. Production has been continually hampered by tepid demand since early 2024. Steel consumption also extended losses, falling by 14pc to 1.97mn t in January from the prior-year month. Demand has been pressured since early 2024 on political, then economic, uncertainty and trade tensions with the US. By Marialuisa Rincon Mexican finished steel YTD 000s of metric tonnes, except ±% Jan-26 Jan-25 Difference ±% Production Hot-rolled coil (HRC) 325 328 -3 -0.9% Rebar 283 357 -74 -20.7% Cold-rolled coil (CRC) 229 288 -59 -20.5% Total* 1343 1598 -255 -16% Consumption HRC 397 439 -42 -9.6% Hot-dipped galvanized (HDG) 341 383 -42 -11% CRC 323 380 -57 -15% Total 1970 2290 -320 -14% Imports by country US 298 346 -48 -13.9% Japan 128 168 -40 -23.8% South Korea 99 133 -34 -25.6% Imports by product Alloyed 168 181 -13 -7.2% HDG 116 150 -34 -22.7% CRC 96 119 -23 -19.3% Total 793 1004 -211 -21% Exports by country US 71 248 -177 -71.4% Colombia 18 5 13 260% Canada 17 14 3 21.4% Exports by product Seamless tube 66 63 3 4.8% Rebar 16 21 -5 -23.8% Structural profiles 14 21 -7 -33.3% Total 166 312 -146 -46.8% Source: Canacero Totals include other products than those listed in this spreadsheet. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US sheds 92,000 jobs in Feb, jobless rate ticks up
US sheds 92,000 jobs in Feb, jobless rate ticks up
Houston, 6 March (Argus) — The US unexpectedly lost 92,000 jobs in February while revisions pulled December data into negative territory, evidence the labor market continues to weaken amid policy uncertainty and geopolitical strife. Analaysts were expecting about 60,000 job gains, according to a survey from Trading Economics, so Friday's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report of a drop comes is seen as a shock. January's data was revised downward by 4,000 jobs to 126,000 while December's was revised by 65,000, pushing that month to a 17,000 job loss. The US economy has been buffeted by President Donald Trump's heavy-handed use of tariffs to extract trade and diplomatic concessions, partial government shutdowns and sticky inflation that keeps lower-earning households from spending. Companies have generally been reluctant to hire amid the ongoing uncertainty and the latest war in the Middle East is only fueling energy inflation and policy uncertainty. The unemployment rate edged up to 4.4pc last month from 4.3pc, but remains at historically low levels. Average hourly earnings rose by 3.8pc in February from a year earlier, compared with 3.7pc in the prior month. Heath care jobs, a leader in recent months, fell by 28,000 in February, affected by strikes at some hospitals systems, following gains of 77,000 in January. Physician offices lost 37,000 jobs, also mainly on the strikes. Federal government jobs fell by 10,000 last month and are down by 330,000 since reaching a peak in October 2024. Manufacturing lost 12,000 jobs last month, with auto manufacturing down by 1,600. Jobs in manufacturing, which Trump has pledged to revive with his use of tariffs, are down by 98,000 since February 2025 and are at their lowest levels in four years. Construction lost 11,000 last month. Mining lost 2,000. Transportation and warehousing lost 11,000 jobs, even as air transport was up by 5,000. Financial activities gained 10,000 jobs after losing 30,000 the prior month. Leisure and hospitality lost 27,000 after losses of 12,000 the prior month. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
GM's Silao plant in Mexico may strike on 25 March
GM's Silao plant in Mexico may strike on 25 March
Houston, 5 March (Argus) — Workers at automaker General Motor (GM)'s Silao plant in Mexico may strike on 25 March following the suspension this week of contract talks between the firm and national independent automotive industry workers' union Sinttia. GM suspended talks for a week after three weeks of negotiations, Sinttia said on 3 March, adding that the workers will strike on 25 March. Silao produces 300,000 vehicles/yr, according to Sinttia. The union originally asked GM for a 20pc pay increase for workers. GM's counteroffer was "far below its real capacity," Sinttia said. It added that the gap between Silao workers and their US counterparts "remains enormous." GM is "negotiating in good faith, with absolute respect for the union process and its representatives," it told Argus . "Our goal is to maintain a cordial and constructive dialogue, always seeking common ground that allows this process to move forward." The firm is committed to reaching a "fair and sustainable agreement that benefits our employees and is favorable for all parties involved," it added. Sinttia said that 90pc of Silao's production goes to the US, leading GM to have its highest market share in the US since 2015. By Marialuisa Rincon Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Asian scrap trading stalls on geopolitical uncertainty
Asian scrap trading stalls on geopolitical uncertainty
Shanghai, 5 March (Argus) — Activity on Asian ferrous scrap markets are expected to decline as a result of the escalating conflict between the US and Iran, causing growing concerns among steelmakers on finished steel sales. But some Japanese traders anticipate trade flows to increase within Asia. Spot trading activity was thin this week, because both buyers and sellers stepped back to assess the impact of the conflict in the Mideast Gulf on commodity markets. Asian ferrous markets are not directly exposed to potential logistics disruptions, but many scrap participants chose to stay on the sidelines given tighter vessel availability, rising freight costs, increasing production costs, volatile exchange rates and unclear direction in the steel market. Scrap sellers were cautious to update offers without first securing vessels. Freight rates received by a Japanese trader this week were only slightly higher by $3-4/t from last week because the routes are within Asia, the trader said. But offers are quite limited, and shipowners will raise rates further if fuel costs continue to climb, they added. In addition to higher freight rates, Japan's firm domestic market further challenged export negotiations. Tokyo Steel increased domestic collection prices by $12.70-15.80/t over 19 February-3 March in an effort to retain more scrap in the local market. Some Japanese traders expect demand from south Asian countries for Japanese scrap to increase if disruptions around the strait of Hormuz reduce supply flows from the Middle East. Pakistan imported 1.23mn t of scrap from the UAE in 2025, while India imported 510,000t from the UAE in the same year, according to Global Trade Tracker (GTT) data. South Asian buyers need to source alternative supply to meet their production demand, a Japanese trader said. Meanwhile prices in some Asian markets like Taiwan, where mills typically prefer to make weekly procurements, have started to rise this week. Offers for containerised HMS 1/2 80:20 have risen as high as $330/t this week, up by approximately $10/t from the last traded price in the week of 23-27 February. Argus assessed the HMS 1/2 80:20 containerised scrap price at $225/t on 4 March, marking a $5/t increase on the day. Weaker steel demand to pressure scrap Potential weakness in steel sales is also weighing on Asian steelmakers' scrap procurement. The Middle East was an important market for Chinese steel products in 2025. Higher freight rates will affect shipments of previous orders and new sales of finished and semi-finished steel products from Asia to the Middle East. Some producers may redirect supply to Asian markets, intensifying regional competition. Asian scrap buyers are also concerned that steel prices may not rise in line with raw material costs because elevated steel prices could dampen downstream demand. March-May is typically the peak construction season across many southeast Asian markets. If the US-Iran conflict persists longer than expected, higher crude oil prices could fuel inflation expectations and heighten growth risks in many economies, market sources said. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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