Steel Scrap Price Trend Analysis 2026: Market Insights, Historical Prices, Price Drivers, Supply Demand Analysis & Latest News

Pragati Agarwal profile photo
Written ByPragati Agarwal

Procurement Resource Database

Laptop screen

Turn price intelligence into action with the Procurement Resource Database. Log in or subscribe to unlock live price trends, historical charts, supplier databases, cost curves, and analyst-backed insights across chemicals, agriculture, energy, packaging, and more. Use these tools to benchmark your contracts, plan budgets with confidence, and stay ahead of market moves on every product you buy.

Steel Scrap Dashboard Inclusions

Steel Scrap Price Dasboard

0

+

Products

0

+

Regions

0

+

Subscriptions

  • Global steel scrap prices followed a firm to upward trend during Q1 2026, supported by supply tightness, higher freight costs, and elevated energy-related costs across major markets. Turkey and the United States showed the strongest increases, while Europe was steadier and China recorded only limited gains.
  • Feedstock conditions remained supportive through the quarter as constrained scrap availability, winter-related collection issues, and logistics disruptions kept raw material supply tight. In India, gas shortages also affected scrap and DRI-based secondary steel operations, adding pressure to raw material consumption.
  • Downstream demand stayed mixed during the quarter. Stable mill buying supported prices in some markets, while weak rebar demand, slow construction recovery, and cautious steel procurement limited stronger gains in others.

Steel scrap prices recorded a generally upward trend in Q1 2026, driven mainly by tight raw material availability, rising freight costs, and higher energy-linked expenses across global markets. Turkey remained one of the strongest markets as supply shortages and freight disruptions kept scrap values supported, while US prices also increased on winter-related collection delays and stable mill demand.

Europe moved into a more balanced phase during the quarter, with earlier supply tightness easing and mills showing resistance to fresh increases, though costs remained supported by energy and transport pressure. China saw only a mild rise, as slower construction recovery and limited new project activity capped steel demand and scrap buying interest. In India, gas supply shortages disrupted secondary steelmakers using scrap and DRI (direct reduced iron), with some mills reducing output and rationing fuel, which added pressure to feedstock flows and market sentiment.

About Steel Scrap

Steel scrap or scrap is the product produced by re-using steel scrap generated from steel manufacturing processes. It can be remelted over and over endlessly to make new products such as automobiles, rail coaches, ships, white goods, construction products, machinery, electrical and electronic equipment, as well as packaging material.

Steel Scrap Product Detail

Hs Code
72044910/ 72044900
Industrial Uses

Used for manufacturing various goods, including home furnishings from metal beds to office equipment, steel lamps and steel tables, white goods, vehicles, electronics, machinery, and packaging, among others.

Synonyms

Scrap metal, Metal Scrap, Ferrous Scrap

Supplier Database

EVRAZ North America, China Steel Corporation (CSC), American Iron & Metal Company Inc., OmniSource, LLC, Hyundai Motor Company, TSR Recycling GmbH & Co. KG, European Metal Recycling Ltd., Innovative Metal Recycling, SA Recycling LLC, Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., Ward Recycling Ltd, Inc.

Regional Coverage

Asia Pacific

China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Iran, Thailand, South Korea, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Nepal, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, UAE, Israel, Hongkong, Singapore, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Australia, and New Zealand

Europe

Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy,Spain, Russia, Turkey, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Belgium, Austria, Ireland Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Romania, Finland, Czech Republic, Portugal and Greece

North America

United States and Canada

Latin America

Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Columbia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru

Africa

South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco

CurrencyUS$ (Data can also be provided in local currency)

Supplier Database AvailabilityYes

Customization ScopeThe report can be customized as per the requirements of the customer

Post-Sale Analyst Support360-degree analyst support after report delivery

Note: Our supplier search experts can assist your procurement teams in compiling and validating a list of suppliers indicating they have products, services, and capabilities that meet your company's needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Global steel scrap followed a firm to upward trend in Q1 2026, driven by tight supply, higher freight costs, and elevated energy expenses. Turkey and the USA recorded the strongest gains, while Europe stabilised and China saw only limited increases.
Winter-related collection delays, elevated freight costs, and geopolitical disruptions affecting shipping routes increased procurement expenses in Q1 2026. Tight scrap availability and higher energy costs also supported prices across major import markets.
The supply chain runs from collection and shredding through processing yards, traders, and exporters, before reaching EAF and BOF steelmakers globally.
China led global steel scrap consumption in 2025 at 227.0 million tonnes, followed by the EU at 74.4 million tonnes and the USA at 57.0 million tonnes. India and Turkey were the standout growth markets, with consumption rising 17.9% and 5.8% respectively, while the EU, Japan, and South Korea recorded declines.
Globally, the shift toward EAF steelmaking is the primary structural driver of scrap demand, as EAFs use scrap as their main feedstock while emitting significantly less carbon than traditional blast furnaces.
Global recycled steel usage rose 4.5% to 480.268 million tonnes in 2025 despite a 2.2% decline in overall crude steel production, signalling a structural shift toward scrap-intensive steelmaking.
Steel scrap demand is closely tied to construction and manufacturing activity, as these sectors drive rebar and long steel consumption at EAF mills. In Q1 2026, weak construction recovery in China and cautious procurement across Europe limited scrap buying interest, keeping gains modest despite tight supply conditions.
Algoma Steel permanently closed its blast furnace on January 18, 2026, completing Canada's largest decarbonisation project and fully transitioning to EAF-based scrap steelmaking, with EAF Unit 1 running 24 hours a day and record steel plate sales of 116,000 tonnes achieved in Q1 2026.
China remained the world's largest steel scrap consumer in 2025 at 227.0 million tonnes, with usage rising 8.3% year-on-year despite a 4.4% decline in crude steel production to 960.8 million tonnes. Its low EAF adoption rate relative to Turkey and the USA means any shift in Chinese demand has an outsized amplifying or dampening effect on global scrap trade flows and sentiment.
Procurement Resource analyses metal price trends using primary market research, trade data, supply-demand analysis, and feedstock tracking. The methodology also evaluates inventories, freight costs, and macroeconomic factors, supported by continuous market monitoring and cross-verification.

About the Author

Pragati Agarwal profile photo

Pragati Agarwal

Senior Business Insights Analyst

Delivering price trend analysis and procurement market insights at Procurement Resource, with expertise in identifying commodity patterns, supporting purchasing strategies, and improving cost efficiency through actionable market intelligence.

Our Price Analysis Methodology

Schedule Demo

Schedule a demo

Experience how Procurement Resource transforms raw material price data into clear, decision ready intelligence. Optimise your performance with reliable, expert market data and analysis. Schedule your demo today to experience a live walk-through where our experts will showcase interactive price charts, forecasted prices, and insights driving the prices for your key commodities, tailored to your workflows. Contact us now!

Our Team will be happy to assist you

We are just a text away

+1

Still Need Help?

Europe & Africa

+44 7573 171117

[email protected]

USA & Canada

+1 307 363 1045

[email protected]

APAC

+91 8850629517

[email protected]

Other Related Reports

Cold Rolled Steel Sheet Production From Recrystallization Annealing

The study offers a detailed cost analysis of Cold Rolled Steel Sheet Production From Recrystallization Annealing. In addition, the report incorporates the manufacturing process with detailed process and material flow, operating costs along with financial expenses and depreciation charges.

Unlock full access to Procurement Resource's price databases, interactive charts, and short-term forecasts for thousands of commodities. Elevate your sourcing decisions by comparing prices across regions, downloading historical data, and layering in analyst-backed insights, all with our flexible plans that scale as your portfolio grows.

Still have any Questions

Contact Us
Mastercard
Wire
VISA
Stripe

Related News

View All

Why Procurement Database

Commodity Market Intelligence

Commodity Market Intelligence

Track prices, market movements, supply-demand dynamics, and industry developments across hundreds of commodities through a centralized intelligence platform built for informed procurement decisions.

Price Forecasts & Market Outlooks

Price Forecasts & Market Outlooks

Understand market fluctuations using analyst-backed forecasts, historical pricing patterns, and evolving industry trends to strengthen sourcing strategies and budget planning.

Cost & Procurement Optimization

Cost & Procurement Optimization

Leverage cost models, pricing benchmarks, and procurement insights to evaluate purchasing opportunities, improve negotiations, and enhance operational efficiency.

Global & Regional Market Insights

Global & Regional Market Insights

Access region-specific price trends, trade activities, capacity changes, and supply chain developments influencing commodity markets worldwide.

1/4