Stainless Steel Scrap Price Trend and Forecast

Stainless Steel Scrap Regional Price Overview

Get the latest insights on price movement and trend analysis of Stainless Steel Scrap in different regions across the world (Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa).

Stainless Steel Scrap Price Trend for Q1 of 2025

Asia

The stainless steel scrap market in Asia demonstrated robust growth throughout Q1’25. Chinese buyers showed particularly strong interest as raw material costs climbed, with scrap prices for premium grades increasing by more than 2% in mid-March. This trend was amplified by supply constraints, as Kazakhstan extended its ban on scrap exports for an additional six months.
 

Stainless Steel Scrap Price Chart

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Though primarily targeting ferrous scrap, this restriction impacted the broader metals recycling market across Central Asia. Nickel-bearing stainless grades commanded higher premiums due to the steady strengthening of nickel values on the Shanghai Futures Exchange. Inventory levels at major trading hubs declined as processors accelerated purchasing to secure material ahead of anticipated further price increases.

Europe

European stainless steel scrap values moved decisively upward during the first quarter. The market received additional support from rising LME copper prices, creating positive sentiment across all non-ferrous recycling segments. German scrap dealers reported significant increases for V-2A and V-4A stainless grades, reflecting both the rising alloy surcharges and tightening availability. The European Commission's ongoing review of trade measures indirectly supported scrap values by maintaining firm pricing for finished stainless products. Processors focused on high-nickel content grades where material utilization offered maximum revenue potential.

North America

North American stainless steel scrap prices surged dramatically in Q1’25, influenced by both domestic and international factors. The implementation of broad tariffs on steel imports strengthened the position of domestic mills, increasing their scrap purchasing activity. Collection rates remained below historical averages, creating competitive pressure among buyers seeking to secure limited supplies. The price differential between 300-series and 400-series scrap widened significantly as nickel content became increasingly valuable. Processors reported extending payment premiums to secure reliable supply streams, particularly for cleanly segregated industrial arisings containing higher alloy content.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the Stainless Steel Scrap market is expected to remain strong, with global supply constraints expected to persist. International trade restrictions are increasingly fragmenting the market, creating regional price variances based on local collection dynamics and mill demand patterns.
 

Stainless Steel Scrap Price Trend for the Second Half of 2024

In the second half of 2024, the price trend for steel scrap, including stainless steel scrap, was characterized by fluctuations driven by varying demand and supply factors across key regions. Initially, prices experienced a modest decline as demand from downstream industries remained subdued, with many buyers only purchasing essential materials. This cautious sentiment was influenced by global economic uncertainties and a conservative approach to inventory management. However, as the third quarter unfolded, prices for both steel and stainless-steel scrap began to stabilize and show signs of upward movement, bolstered by an increase in demand from construction, manufacturing, and automotive sectors.

Despite this, the price increase proved to be short-lived, as it was not supported by corresponding growth in demand. By mid-October, prices began to soften again, as market fundamentals, particularly in major consumer markets, failed to provide lasting support. Regional factors such as seasonal slowdowns, export dynamics, and fluctuations in scrap collection and supply further contributed to the price volatility. In markets like Europe and the US, price stability was influenced by varying scrap availability and adjustments in domestic production, while in Asia, particularly in China, scrap supply and demand dynamics had a noticeable impact on the price trajectory.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, stainless steel scrap prices are expected to show an oscillatory trend in the coming months, contingent on both macroeconomic policies and shifts in raw material availability.
 

Stainless Steel Scrap Price Trend for the First Half of 2024

In the first half of 2024, the stainless-steel scrap market experienced significant volatility due to shifting global economic conditions and fluctuating demand. Moderate demand, reduced production, and tight supply kept prices relatively stable, though pressures mounted in Europe as declining steel production and reduced activity in construction and manufacturing limited scrap generation. Elevated freight costs curtailed imports from Asia, further depleting inventories.

Despite these challenges, lower energy costs in Western Europe helped maintain some stability. However, heightened demand for high-grade scrap from flat steel producers drove shifts in pricing dynamics, while Turkey and Egypt grappled with weaker domestic demand due to depreciating currencies and high interest rates. In Asia, economic struggles, particularly in China's real estate sector, further impacted demand for stainless steel, contributing to a broader global slowdown. Industry experts highlighted that the stainless-steel scrap market faced profitability challenges, with high costs and lower returns making investment less favorable during this period.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, Stainless Steel Scrap prices are expected to remain confined in the coming months. Improvement in demand and prices is expected from September onwards because of anticipated ease in economic conditions for the global steel market.
 

Stainless Steel Scrap Price Trend for the Second Half of 2023

The EU stainless steel scrap market has faced fierce competition and significant challenges, exacerbated by recent price increases and a shortage of supply during the fourth quarter of 2023 after a series of oscillations in the previous quarters. Domestic stainless steel producers prepared for further price hikes in the adjacent quarters, having previously depressed scrap prices, which collapsed significantly following the onset of the Ukraine war.

The shortage of feedstock supply during H2'23, fueled by Europe's limited scrap imports and extensive exports, has led to a recovery in prices. The existing business practices and policies were criticized by scrap dealers, who faced damaging pressures.

Additionally, Kazakhstan's extended scrap export ban and similar protectionist measures in other countries, such as the UAE, and anticipated actions by the EU further tightened the supply. Indian producers also foresee difficulties due to growing global protectionism. Despite potential surpluses in production, its impact on stainless steel prices remains minimal. The increasing need for stainless steel scrap, particularly in the EU, the US, India, and other Asian countries, combined with scrap protectionism and scarce availability, is expected to intensify market competition and support elevated stainless steel prices.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the price of Stainless Steel Scrap is estimated to incline in the next quarters as the global industries grapple with the dried inventories and surging demand for the commodity.
 

Stainless Steel Scrap Price Trend for the First Half of 2023

Asia

In 2023, the prices of stainless-steel scrap faced a difficult first quarter as the demand from the downstream industries was weak while the level of inventories rose consistently. Along with the domestic sector, the overseas sector also showcased feeble movements, and thus, with declined trading activities, the prices of stainless-steel scrap also nosedived.

However, the initial phase of the second quarter was favorable for the stainless-steel scrap market, especially in China, as it was backed by high costs of feedstock materials and high demand from the end-user sector. But this trajectory was short-lived, and with the influx of low-cost raw materials, the price trend of stainless-steel scrap again dipped in the latter half of the second quarter of 2023.

Europe

The price trend of stainless-steel scrap in the European countries was stable in the first quarter as the consistent demand for stainless-steel scrap was not countered by the limited supply. After a long phase of disruption caused by COVID-19, the rates of consumption returned to their normal levels, which further helped the market of stainless-steel scrap to remain afloat.

During the initial phase of the second quarter, the high number of sales from the automotive industries and the rise in prices of feedstock materials boosted the positive movement of stainless-steel scrap prices.

However, in the latter half, the market sentiments were adversely affected by poor economic growth, a rise in inflation, and a steep decline in demand from the downstream industries, causing the price trend of stainless-steel scrap to move southwards.

North America

In North America, the prices of stainless-steel scrap remained positive in the first quarter as the construction industries showcased positive demand, and the high cost of raw materials pushed the trend in the positive zone. Similar to the European markets, the spike in prices in the early months of the second quarter caused by the expansion of the service industry and strong domestic demand was soon countered by rising rates of inflation and the collapse of the US economy.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the price trend of Stainless-Steel Scrap is expected to decline in the upcoming quarters as the global economic conditions do not seem suitable for the growth of the stainless-steel scrap market.

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