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.
EU changes to HDG, CRC quotas to hit imports
EU changes to HDG, CRC quotas to hit imports
London, 11 March (Argus) — The European Commission's proposed changes to its import steel safeguard quotas, starting from 1 April, are expected to affect volumes for hot-dip galvanised (HDG) and cold-rolled coils (CRC) because of proposed caps on individual suppliers' access to the "other countries" allocation of 13-25pc depending on product category. For CRC the cap stands at 13pc, impacting key suppliers Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan and Turkey. The new CRC "others" quota volume will total 334,369t in April-June for other countries, which leaves 43,467t per supplier. The change mimics the cap introduced last year on hot-rolled coil (HRC) quotas. The limit for galvanised steel imports are higher, with 20pc cap on 4B auto-grade HDG imports from other countries, with Turkey, Vietnam and Japan identified by the commission as major suppliers. The cap is at 25pc for 4A HDG quotas, impacting Turkey, Vietnam and Taiwan. This would allow each country under other countries to supply 118,012t/quarter of 4A HDG, with the total volume for the quota at 472,049t for the coming quarter. For 4B HDG, the quota for other countries will be 104,770t, leaving 20,955t per country. Remaining volumes from previous quarters will not be carried over starting from 1 July for CRC and 4A HDG, but for 4B HDG quotas, the mechanism will remain in place. In 2024, imports from Vietnam, Turkey, Taiwan and Japan amounted to 2.15mn t for HDG into the EU, including both 4A and 4B categories. In the last quarter of 2024, Vietnamese HDG imports into the EU alone amounted to 321,405t, equivalent to over 56pc of the total other countries quota for that period for 4A and 4B combined. The total volume of 4A and 4B that Vietnam will be able to tap into from April will be just under 140,000t. Reactions from Turkish market participants were mixed today, but expectations are that reduced Vietnamese volumes might aid Turkish sellers of HDG, despite the fact that Turkey will also face the same cap as well as dumping duties. Vietnam has been taking up a large portion of the quota, with the changes now likely to allow more volumes to flow into the EU from other suppliers. Combined CRC volumes in the EU from Turkey, Japan, Taiwan and Vietnam amounted to 1.38mn t in 2024 and in the fourth quarter alone reached 339,909t. This will cut CRC imports sharply as under the current adjustments, other countries will have 43,467 t/quarter allocation each for the April-June period. Initially a more substantial reduction in quota volumes was anticipated, as per European steel association Eurofer's request . With the exception of Vietnamese HDG, the adjustments are not likely to change import volumes drastically, according to market participants. "The cap on CRC and HDG quotas will reduce our exports but we were expecting harsher reductions. We still have our separate allocation for HRC, and we can offset our exports through HRC sales," a Turkish producer commented. "But what will happen to all the new capacities? Volumes could be directed to the local market, challenging domestic producers," a re-roller said. By Elif Eyuboglu Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EU plate quota caps key suppliers at 110,000 t/quarter
EU plate quota caps key suppliers at 110,000 t/quarter
London, 11 March (Argus) — The new iteration of the EU steel safeguard quotas will include a 20pc cap on hot-rolled plate imports under the "other countries" quota, which will limit imports from a number of key sellers. The proposed quarterly plate quota stands at about 550,000 t/quarter, which is only slightly lower than current levels, by about 15,000t from January-March. Suppliers such as South Korea, Indonesia and India previously were able to tap into the quarterly volume unrestricted, but now will be limited to 110,000 t/quarter for a total of about 440,000 t/yr. There will no longer be a carryover of unused quota volumes from quarter to quarter for several products including heavy plate. The changes are set to take effect on 1 April unless any objection is lodged by the World Trade Organization. Plate imports into the EU last year amounted to 2.1mn t. Only South Korea exported beyond the new 440,000t threshold, as arrivals totalled 760,000t, leaving 320,000t, or about 42pc of its volumes to the bloc, at risk if exports were to continue at last year's pace. Indonesian and Indian exports to the EU were lower at 420,000t and 410,000t, respectively, last year. If imports from these countries continue at the same pace, the impact on these origins will be minimal. The changes could benefit some suppliers with lower volumes such as Brazil, Japan, North Macedonia and Malaysia, which could potentially step up to substitute some of South Korea's volumes. "I think [South] Korea is the loser indeed, and total imports are more likely to be reduced. This should give a respite to EU producers but competition will increase within Europe as producers will most likely increase their production if they can. I do not see a healthy market ahead," a trading firm said. By Carlo Da Cas Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
New EU steel safeguards quotas softer than Eurofer ask
New EU steel safeguards quotas softer than Eurofer ask
London, 11 March (Argus) — Amendments to the EU's steel safeguard quotas, after a European Commission review initiated in December, are far less stringent than European steel association Eurofer's requests . The proposed changes will see the total duty-free hot-rolled coil (HRC) quota volume reduced from 1 April to 1.9mn t/quarter, representing a 12.1pc cut quarter on quarter. The reduction is the result of the decision to remove up to 65pc of redistributed Russian volumes, owing to sanctions after the conflict in Ukraine. Those tonnages will also be taken out of the plate, wire rod and hollow sections quotas. The largest cut in volumes on HRC is for India, with duty-free volume falling by around 23pc. In addition, the cap to the "other countries" HRC quota access every quarter is reduced to 13pc from 15pc previously. There is now a cap introduced of 13pc for the cold-rolled coil (CRC) quotas, of 20pc for 4B hot-dipped galvanised and 25pc for 4A HDG allocations, as well as 20pc for rebar. The caps for other products are in a range of 15-30pc. The commission is removing the access to residual quota volumes in the final quarter of the measures' year, April-June for HRC, CRC and 4A HDG. Importers will get up to 30pc access in the 4B residual volumes. There will no longer be carry over of unused quota volumes from quarter to quarter for several products, including HRC, CRC, 4A HDG, plate and wire rod, but the mechanism will remain in place for 4B HDG and rebar. The commission will also reduce the annual quotas liberalisation rate to 0.1pc from 1pc. The latter two changes will be applicable from 1 July — all other changes will be in force from 1 April. There will also be a new 1B quota for HRC for imports under HS code 7212 60 00 with negligible volumes, following crowding out of the highly specific product, identified by one interested party. Notably, there have been very few changes to the developing countries list to which the measures do not apply, with Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, China and Thailand still exempt from the HRC quotas. Eurofer was seeking a 50pc reduction in flat product quotas as well as a 32-41pc increase in the safeguard duty applicable to material outside allocations. It also proposed a melt-and-pour clause on Chinese steel, and a cut in the HRC other countries' cap to 7.5pc, not the 13pc put forward by the commission. Multiple sell-side sources had repeatedly told Argus the changes would be "meaningful", with the commission understanding the plight of European mills. However, the changes are substantially less drastic than those requested by Eurofer. The review has been seen as something of a damp squib by sellers, and even buyers, which were hoping severe import restrictions would help lift prices. A source close to Eurofer said he was "shocked" by the results, and that doors "remain wide open" to imports. Another mill source termed the review a "big fat nothing". The safeguard will run until 30 June 2026 and there will be consultations on the review over 11-18 March. By Lora Stoyanova and Colin Richardson Amended safeguard quota volumes t Proposed allocation 1 April-30 June 2025 Current allocation 1 January-31 March 2025 Change HRC Turkey 397,957 464,843 -66,886 India 225,080 295,144 -70,064 South Korea 161,143 184,309 -23,166 UK 139,271 154,181 -14,910 Serbia 142,378 163,620 -21,242 Other countries 856,769 925,106 -68,337 — European Commission proposal Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US steelmakers urge no 232 tariff exclusions
US steelmakers urge no 232 tariff exclusions
Houston, 7 March (Argus) — Top leaders of US steelmakers urged President Donald Trump to resist requests to exclude or exempt steel imports from upcoming 25pc Section 232 tariffs. The chief executives of Cleveland-Cliffs, CMC, Metallus, North American Stainless, Nucor, Tenaris, US Steel, and Zekelman Industries and the treasurer of Steel Dynamics signed the letter sent to Trump on Friday. Trump is set to put the 25pc Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs into effect on 12 March, removing all tariff rate quota (TRQ) and nontariffed agreements. In the letter, the leaders said the original 25pc national security 232 tariffs implemented in March 2018 led to steel imports dropping "significantly," and allowed for over $20bn in upgrades and new mills. Utilization rates were also said to have increased. US steelmakers have both shuttered facilities and added millions of tons of production since 2018, with closures mainly from older, iron ore-based blast furnaces while new and upgraded scrap-based electric arc furnace (EAF) mills have added capacity. In the letter, the steelmakers added that steel tariff exemptions since 2018 allowed for higher import volumes, "even for products readily available from domestic suppliers." US steel import volumes fell in 2018 and 2019 and were 9.14mn metric tonnes (t) lower in 2019 than in 2017, the year before tariffs were imposed. They fell by another 5.3mn t in 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic led to broad shutdowns in the US and global economies. Imports have oscillated wildly since then, up by 9.57mn t in 2021, before falling year over year in 2022 and 2023. Imports were up by 641,600t in 2024 from the prior year. By Rye Druzchetta US steel product imports t Year Imports YoY Change (t) Change (%) 2017 34,472,508 na na 2018 30,573,530 -3,898,978 -11.3% 2019 25,332,481 -5,241,049 -17.1% 2020 20,032,166 -5,300,315 -20.9% 2021 29,601,055 9,568,889 47.8% 2022 28,076,057 -1,524,998 -5.2% 2023 25,583,086 -2,492,971 -8.9% 2024 26,224,660 641,574 2.5% US Department of Commerce Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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