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.
Rhine water levels slow EU steel feedstock trade
Rhine water levels slow EU steel feedstock trade
London, 9 July (Argus) — Waterborne trade flows of steel feedstocks across central and northwest Europe have been slowed by falling water levels in the Rhine river, which has also pushed up shipping costs. Water levels fell to 78cm at Kaub as of 1pm local time today, down from 85cm at the same time yesterday and 118cm on 5 July, data from Germany's federal waterways and shipping administrations WSV show. Kaub is a key bottleneck on the Rhine and an important reference point for commercial shipping. Steel and raw material market participants have seen a direct impact on their logistics as a result, with strains on shipping and costs rising. "Low water in the Rhine means less capacities and higher freight costs," one Germany-based metals recycler said. "We're facing that vessels will [only] be able to load about 40pc of the vessel's capacity." A lot of material cannot be moved by ships, another recycler said, adding their customers are now trying to secure inflows through alternative transport means. "There are big problems receiving raw materials," one steel mill source said. "We lose a lot of trains, which get cancelled, and now we have low water in the Rhine." "Our barges can only load very low tonnages, which is very expensive," the mill source continued, adding that its raw material stocks are "very low". Waterway freight rates have risen as a direct result, with estimations ranging 40-60pc increases. Rates for shipping to Rotterdam, a major export hub for Europe, from Mannheim, in southern Germany before the Kaub bottleneck, were cited at around €38-42/t ($43-48/t) today, one market participant said. Warm weather is expected to continue, which could reduce water levels further, compounding logistic issues. Temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius are forecast for the south and the west of Germany heading into the weekend, according to the country's weather service DWD. The Rhine, which stretches over 1,200km from the Swiss Alps to the low countries, is one of Europe's busiest waterways and a crucial shipping route for steel raw materials such as scrap and coal, as well as other commodities. By Corey Aunger and Austin Barnes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
GSA to build Australia's first all-electric steel mill
GSA to build Australia's first all-electric steel mill
Sydney, 9 July (Argus) — Private metals developer GreenSteel Australia (GSA) will invest A$500mn ($347mn) to build the country's first steel mill to run entirely on electricity, which is scheduled to start operations in January 2028. The proposed Mayfield North mill in Newcastle, New South Wales (NSW), will produce up to 600,000 t/yr of finished steel for Australia's housing, transport and energy sectors, the firm said. Mayfield will be the first new steel mill in Australia in over 30 years and the first to run entirely on electricity, with no gas used in the process, the firm said. The facility will operate with electric induction furnace (EIF) technology, replacing traditional fossil fuel burners with electricity. The site previously housed Australian miner BHP's Newcastle Steelworks, which closed in 1999. The proposed works are consistent with the site's current approved use for steel fabrication, a GSA spokesperson told Argus on 9 July. The company is finalising detailed design plans and will lodge a development application for the project soon, the spokesperson added. GSA is planning further development at the site and will announce plans for stage two of Mayfield in the coming weeks. Site refurbishment will start at the end of 2026, with key equipment including the EIF due to arrive from October 2027 from Italian steel infrastructure firm Danieli, GSA said. The firm will initially produce reinforcing bar, with wire rod and coil production planned in later stages, and will use steel billets as feedstock, likely to be sourced from southeast Asia. The Australian government's Future Made in Australia (FMIA) agenda encouraged the firm to invest in the project, GSA said. It has not received government funding for the Mayfield project, Argus understands. The federal government earmarked A$1bn as part of its FMIA policy to support iron projects under its Green Iron Investment Fund (GIIF) announced in February 2025. The GIIF aims to support early mover "green" iron projects and unlock private investment at scale, the federal government said. Green iron refers to lower-carbon intensive production methods such as hydrogen-based reduction. Half of the GIIF — A$500mn — was allocated as part of the A$3.2bn in government funding given to the embattled 1.2mn t/yr Whyalla steelworks in South Australia in a bid to support its transformation into a green steel manufacturer. The other A$500mn will go to other applicants across Australia. Applications closed in February and the federal government is yet to announce frontrunners. By Emma Partis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US trade gap in May widest in 14 months
US trade gap in May widest in 14 months
Houston, 7 July (Argus) — The US trade deficit in May widened to the most in more than a year, as exports of industrial supplies and consumer goods fell and imports rose. The deficit in goods and services widened to a seasonally adjusted $77.6bn in May from $54.6bn in April, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Tuesday. It was the widest deficit since it reached $133bn in March 2025. The wider deficit suggests net trade will subtract about 2 percentage points from GDP growth in the second quarter, according to Oxford Economics, as imports subtract from GDP growth. But strong business investment and inventory accumulation should keep annual GDP growth above 2pc in the quarter, Oxford said. The deficit in goods widened in May to $106.5bn, up from $83bn in April and the widest since $159bn in March 2025. The services surplus widened to $28.9bn. US president Donald Trump in February imposed 10pc tariffs on goods from most trading partners using Section 122 duties that expire on 24 July after the Supreme Court struck down most of the tariffs he began declaring in April 2025. The Tax Foundation estimates tariffs will increase taxes on Americans by about $700/household in 2026. US exports of goods fell to $210bn in May from $222bn the prior month, while goods imports rose to $317bn in May from $305bn in April. Services exports rose to $107bn while services imports edged up to $78bn. Exports of industrial supplies — including energy, metals and fertilizer — fell to $83bn in May, with exports of nonmonetary gold more than halved to $5.7bn. Capital goods exports fell by $3.5bn to $66.9bn, while auto and parts exports were little changed at about $13bn. Consumer goods exports fell by $2bn to $20.7bn. Imports of food rose, as did imports of industrial supplies and capital goods except autos. Auto imports were at about $37bn. Consumer good imports rose to nearly $60bn. Energy trade US exports of energy-related petroleum products and crude were at $34.7bn in May compared with imports of $19.6bn, without seasonal adjustments. Unadjusted exports of crude rose to 5.71mn b/d in May, up from 5.57mn b/d in April and 4.31mn b/d in February. Crude imports fell to 5.58mn b/d in May from 5.92mn b/d in April, but fell from 6.36mn b/d in February. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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.
Spotlight content
Browse the latest thought leadership produced by our global team of experts.
The 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.
Ferrous Market Update: A Summer of Uncertainty
Get the latest insights on tariffs, US EAF ramp-ups, and Chinese exports, and key takeaways from the ReMA National Convention.
Metal Movers: Expanding into the Mexican ferrous market
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.