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.
US Al: UBCs rise slightly with exchange
US Al: UBCs rise slightly with exchange
Houston, 5 March (Argus) — US aluminum premiums continued to march up this week, even as used beverage can (UBC) buyers had little response to newly-imposed tariffs. Argus assessed the P1020 US Midwest premium at 41.75-43¢/lb, up from 40-41.5¢/lb a week earlier and fully surpassing the record high set in 2022. Buyers and sellers were uncertain where to place premiums in the latest week citing uncertainty over the tariff impact. The Trump administration this week enacted 25pc tariffs on all imports from Canada and Mexico and 10pc on Chinese imports. Another 25pc tariff on all aluminum imports is expected to be imposed on 12 March. At least some traders with inventories estimated premiums could surge higher, even to 50¢/lb, once the full cumulative set of tariffs are in place. Still for the time being, traders and suppliers found consumers largely unwilling to enter the market for any significant volumes. UBCs rose slightly — along with the London Metal Exchange (LME) settlement — to $1.15-1.18/lb from $1.13-1.17/lb yesterday, while buying spreads narrowed to 70.7-72.5pc of the Argus Midwest transaction price (MWTP), from 70.5-73pc on Tuesday. LME cash aluminum rose to $1.2034/lb today from $1.195/lb yesterday. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Salzgitter declares force majeure on steel coil supply
Salzgitter declares force majeure on steel coil supply
London, 5 March (Argus) — German steelmaker Salzgitter has declared force majeure on coil shipments after a fire disrupted its only hot-strip mill. In a letter sent to customers on 4 March, the company said the fire broke out on 28 February for "reasons unknown to us", and production has been interrupted as a result. The company said its single hot-strip mill will "probably not be able to produce at full capacity until the fire damage has been completely repaired". Salzgitter is making "great efforts and taking extensive precautions to ensure" supply, and asked customers to accept quantities quickly and smoothly. The force majeure came as the coil market awaits the results of the European Commission's safeguard review, which is likely to curb import supply meaningfully. Argus' benchmark northwest EU HRC index rose to €621.50/t yesterday, up by over €100/t in the past six months, supported by probable import restrictions despite sluggish demand. Mills have been in no rush to sell recently, as they expect prices to increase further once the results of the review are public. Market leader ArcelorMittal is currently targeting €680/t base, with an intention to move up to €700/t, sources suggested. Salzgitter's share price rallied today, along with those of its peers, predominantly because of news that the German government will look to lift its debt brake and launch a €500bn infrastructure fund. The company's share price was up by over 13pc today, as of 10:37 GMT, at €22.98. By Colin Richardson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Mexican peso dips, recovers on tariff hopes
Mexican peso dips, recovers on tariff hopes
Houston, 4 March (Argus) — The Mexican peso weakened on the US decision to go ahead with the 25pc tariff on all imports from Mexico and Canada Monday, but it recovered some losses today, suggesting the market is hopeful the tariffs may be short-lived. The Mexican peso lost 1.3pc to close at Ps20.71 to the US dollar Monday afternoon, according to data from Mexico's central bank. The declines came as US president Donald Trump late Monday reaffirmed that he intended to impose 25pc tariff on all products coming from Mexico, effective early 4 March. The peso on Tuesday continued its slide to the dollar, reaching Ps 21/$1 briefly in the intraday market before paring its losses and ending the day stronger at Ps 20.74/1$, according to Mexican bank Banco Base and Mexico's central bank data. Sentiment in the market is that the US administration will lift the tariffs sooner rather than later because of deep implications for the US economy. "The exchange rate and volatility have not skyrocketed, as the market speculates that the US government could withdraw the tariffs soon and that their imposition is mainly intended to give credibility to Donald Trump's threats," said Gabriela Siller, head of the financial analysis department at Banco Base, on her X account. The tariff will especially affect Mexican agricultural exports such as tomatoes, avocados or some vegetables, as well as the automobile industry, which heavily relies on Mexico to build cars that are sold in the US. In the energy sector, tariffs could partially disrupt Pemex's crude exports to the US, which would need to be diverted to other countries, especially to Asia, to avoid the 25pc tariff. Pemex primarily sells crude under evergreen or long-term contracts, allowing it to set prices and volumes buyers must accept. These agreements vary in duration, with some being indefinite and others requiring a minimum purchase period. The 25pc tariff imposed by Trump's administration could simply be added to Pemex's benchmark price and leave US buyers to decide whether to accept it. If they decline, Pemex could offer its crude at a discount to other buyers. Last week, Pemex management said it is prepared to change its commercial strategy in case the tariffs enter into effect. Pemex exported about 505,000 b/d of crude to the US last year, or 60pc of Mexico's crude exports in 2024, vessel tracking data show. The state owned company is likely to also be affected through its exports of high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) to US Gulf coast refiners, which are also optimized to convert HSFO — a low-value byproduct — into higher-value fuels like gasoline and diesel. The state-owned company exported around 130,000 b/d of HSFO to the US in 2024, down from 163,000 b/d in 2023, according to Vortexa. By Édgar Sígler Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Low Italian plate prices to stem fresh imports
Low Italian plate prices to stem fresh imports
London, 4 March (Argus) — Italian heavy plate traded at multi-year lows towards the end of 2024 after a difficult year that saw a lack of demand, especially from the distribution sector. Prices have since then largely remained suppressed, leading market participants to suggest that mills are likely keeping their offers low to stem the flow of imports. "They have no choice. The cake to share is too small [for Italian rerollers], so you have to squeeze out the foreign competition," a trader said. Argus' Italy index touched a four-year low of €600/t ex-works on October 25, rising by €40/t to €640/t ex-works on February 28. Despite the increase, buying opportunities for Italian customers have remained somewhat limited as mills have timed their price hikes to mimic import movements. The arbitrage between domestic-import offers has remained steady at €0-50/t over the past 4-5 months, a development that has likely hindered imports into Italy. Market participants agree that buying opportunities arise when arbitrage sits above €60-70/t. The possible launching of an anti-dumping investigation on South Korean heavy plate by European authorities also dissuaded purchasing at the end of last year. More recently, US president Donald Trump's protectionist measures, coupled with the EU's revision of the current steel safeguard measures, which is yet to conclude, have made planning procurement from abroad difficult, according to traders. "Now we are cutting back in the past two months [import purchasing] … I have 10,000t in Italian ports, which is an okay volume for me," a trader said. Heavy plate volumes at port might take longer than expected to deplete though. "We do not want to sell at a loss," a trader said. "It is better to hold onto material in case prices rise. We cannot afford to have limited volumes if an increase in Italy happens," another source said. Local rerollers have reaped the rewards of their suppressed pricing in January and February, as demand from service centres and stockists in Italy showed some signs of improvement on the year. "At the moment we are not buying from imports. We are covered with the purchases made at the end of the year and with what we have added by purchasing in Italy," a service centre said. Italy imported 280,000t of heavy plate last year, down by 10pc on the year, according to GTT trade data. Looking ahead, arrivals into Italy for the first-half of 2025 are expected to drop once more, a development which would reduce pressure in the highly competitive Italian market that has the highest concentration of heavy plate suppliers in Europe. By Carlo Da Cas Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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