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.
Brazil steel output, imports fall in August
Brazil steel output, imports fall in August
Sao Paulo, 16 September (Argus) — Brazil's steel output, domestic sales and imports all fell in August, led by a steep drop in slab production because of the US' doubling of steel import tariffs. Crude steel production in August dropped by 4.6pc on the year to 2.86mn metric tonnes (t), industry chamber Instituto Aço Brasil said. The country produced almost 22.2mn t of crude steel from January-August, 1.5pc less than a year earlier. Most of the decline is tied to a 21pc cut in slab output to 591,000t in August from the same month in 2024. Slab is a semi-finished steel product used in rolling mills. The US' 50pc tariff on all imported steel, effective 4 June, disrupted the slab trade in Brazil, its primary slab supplier. Brazilian steelmakers have pivoted their slab exports to other markets in Latin America. Slab exports rose to 687,985t in August from 662,715t a year before. Brazil's steel exports also rose on the year by 4pc to around 860,700t in August. Rolled steel production fell by 5.5pc on the year to 1.98mn t. Domestic sales across rolled steel products dropped to 1.8mn t in August from 1.93mn t a year earlier. Steel imports declined by 24pc to 491,055t from a year earlier. Imports accounted for 16pc of the market, compared with 20pc a year earlier. By Isabel Filgueiras Steel production and sales in Brazil 000t Product Aug-25 Aug-24 Difference ± (%) Production Crude steel 2,866 3,005 -139 -4.6 Rolled flats 1,124 1,184 -60 -5.1 Rolled longs 861 917 -56 -6.1 Semifinished - Slabs 591 751 -160 -21.3 Semifinished - Ingots, blooms and billets 70 54 16 29.6 Pig Iron (Integrated steelworks) 2,217 2,302 -85 -3.7 Domestic sales Rolled flats 1,047 1,111 -64 -5.8 Rolled longs 758 824 -66 -8 Semifinished - Flats and longs (exports) 19 24 -5 -20.8 Exports Semifinished - Slabs 687 662 25 3.8 Semifinished - Ingots, blooms and billets 21 13 8 61.5 Total 860 827 33 4 Imports Rolled flats 283 323 -40 -12.4 Coated steel 92 150 -58 -38.7 Rolled longs 54 119 -65 -54.6 Total 491 646 -155 -24 Source: Instituto Aço Brasil Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
India's Jindal bids for ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe
India's Jindal bids for ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe
London, 16 September (Argus) — Indian steelmaker Jindal Steel will enter negotiations with German producer ThyssenKrupp for the acquisition of its European steel arm. Jindal confirmed it has submitted a non-binding offer for ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe, with plans to transform it into 'Europe's largest integrated low-emission steelmaker'. "The plan would secure steel production in Germany and create new business opportunities," Jindal said. ThyssenKrupp is currently in the process of downsizing its production capacity and staff, after it reached an agreement with workers' union IG Metall in July . The Indian steelmaker added that as part of its offer it pledges to complete the DRI project in Duisburg and establish additional electric arc furnace (EAF) capacity with a financial commitment of over €2bn. This contrasts Luxembourg-based steelmaker ArcelorMittal's position, after it said it would not proceed with previously announced direct-reduced iron (DRI) and EAF decarbonisation projects at Bremen and Eisenhuttenstadt due to concerns related to economic feasibility. ThyssenKrupp ceded last year 20pc of its stake in its European steel arm to German infrastructure investor EP Corporate Group (EPCG). Talks continued as EPCG looked to acquire a further 30pc to form a 50:50 joint venture. The steelmaker is also looking to sell its 50pc stake in the German producer Huttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann (HKM). ThyssenKrupp said this remains the preferred option after it announced the termination of its supply contact with HKM in April. By Carlo Da Cas Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Importers fill 60pc of Brazil’s steel quotas
Importers fill 60pc of Brazil’s steel quotas
Sao Paulo, 15 September (Argus) — Steel importers in Brazil filled 299,300 metric tonnes (t) of the initial 497,130t allowed under lower 9-13pc tariffs by 10 September. Imports exceeding this threshold will face a 25pc tariff until 23 October, when the quota resets and reduced tariffs apply again. Buyers brought in 5,000t of 19 steel products covered by the quota policy between 3–10 September, foreign trade secretariat data shows. Most of the volume awaits entry, with only 139,400t having cleared customs as of 10 September. Quota consumption for flat products remained nearly unchanged, with less than 1,000t imported during the period. This marks a slowdown compared with the 4,900t imported under the policy from 27 August–3 September. Beam shipments accounted for over 4,000t of steel imports in the seven-day window. Brazil recently added these products to the quota regime. Buyers can import up to 21,330t of I-beams and H-beams under reduced tariffs between 22 August–21 December, when the quota resets. Brazil introduced its quota policy in June 2024 to regulate a surge in steel imports. The government extended the policy through May 2026. It included four additional steel products and reduced volumes eligible for lower tariffs. Still, Brazil is on track for a new import record in 2025. Industry chamber Instituto Aço Brazil expects rolled steel imports to reach 6.3mn t by year-end, a 32pc increase from a year earlier. By Isabel Filgueiras Brazil steel import quotas metric tonnes Product Full Quota Consumed by 10-Sept Difference Share consumed Hot-rolled HRC, ≥600mm wide, 4.75–10mm thick 1,285 235 1,050 18.3 HRC, ≥600mm wide, 3-4.75mm thick 3,111 2,003 1,108 64.4 HRC, ≥600mm wide, ≤3mm thick, ≥275 MPa 9,520 6,866 0 72.1 HRC, ≥600mm wide, ≤3mm thick 23,490 4,264 19,226 18.2 HRC, ≥600mm wide 9,798 4,236 5,562 43.2 Flat-rolled, ≥600mm wide 468 164 304 35.0 Cold rolled CRC, ≥600mm wide, 1-3mm thick 47,950 26,834 21,116 56.0 CRC, ≥600mm wide, 0.5-1mm thick 36,255 20,637 15,618 56.9 CRC, ≥600mm wide 9,273 7,945 1,328 85.7 Galvanized HDG, ≥600mm wide, <4.75mm 144,286 93,689 50,597 64.9 GL, ≥600mm wide 147,038 103,681 43,357 70.5 HDG, ≥600mm wide 1,915 1,485 430 77.5 Wire rod Wire rod, circular section <14mm dia 32,535 19,283 13,252 59.3 Tubes Seamless tubes ( oil, gas industry) 6,295 3,149 3,146 50.0 Submerged arc welding steel pipes, >406.4mm OD 490 137 353 28.0 Welded circular steel pipes, >406.4mm OD 420 43 377 10.2 Welded circular (oil, gas industry) 1,679 518 1,161 30.9 Beams I-beam, ≥80mm 17,121 3,387 13,734 19.8 H-beam, ≥80mm 4,201 764 3,437 18.2 Source: Siscomex Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Mexico’s industrial output extends declines in July
Mexico’s industrial output extends declines in July
Houston, 11 September (Argus) — Mexico's industrial production declined by 1.2pc in July from the prior month, as manufacturing and construction got off to a weak start for the third quarter. The contraction in the July industrial activity indicator (IMAI), reported Thursday by statistics agency Inegi, follows on an updated 0.3pc decline in June — revised from the 0.1pc contraction Inegi initially reported for June. The July result also marks two months of downside surprises for analysts, with the consensus provided by Mexican bank Banorte for July forecasting a 0.2 decline in July after having projected a 0.2pc expansion for June. By sectors, manufacturing output declined 1.6pc in July, with two thirds of its 21 categories declining, following zero growth in June. Within manufacturing, the transportation equipment component, which includes light vehicles, marked a 4.1pc decline in July after falling 0.7pc in June. Uncertainty will persist moving forward with US president Donald Trump's hike in tariffs on Mexican goods to 30pc from 25pc, announced for 1 August, postponed for 90 days, or until the end of October. The revision process for the USMCA free trade agreement further clouds the outlook for manufacturing with formal trade discussions expected to start in late September or October and last to mid-2026. Construction declined by 1.2pc in July, marking a second consecutive month of declines after the 0.4pc decrease in June, "with broad losses inside", said Banorte, though the bank still foresees overall expansion in construction during the second half of 2025. Under the finance ministry's proposed 2026 budget, now before congress, resources allocated for priority infrastructure projects amount to Ps536.8bn ($29bn), representing a 174pc annual increase in real terms compared to the budget for 2025. The mining component expanded for the first time since April, rising 1.9pc in July after declining 1.1pc in June. This was supported by a 1.2pc increase in oil and gas production. Non-hydrocarbons mining, meanwhile, expanded 2pc in July after rising 2.4pc in June. By James Young Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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