This Week’s Scrap Metal Prices & Market News

Scrap Metal Markets See Mixed Signals: Copper Dips, Steel Gains

Report Date: 5/14/2025

Hey Scrappers!

This week, the global economic landscape continues to evolve, influencing the scrap metal markets. While some sectors face challenges, others show promising signs of growth, driven by policy changes and shifting trade dynamics. Key developments this week include:

  • Geopolitical impacts: Tariff adjustments and trade tensions affecting commodity prices.
  • Domestic pressure: U.S. manufacturing contraction and mixed trends in metal demand.
  • International influence: China’s steel export surge and rare earth uncertainty.

Let’s dive into the latest updates across various scrap metal categories.

Should you HOLD or SELL your scrap?

Non-Ferrous News:

Non-ferrous metals continue to experience a mix of price stability and volatility, driven by global economic factors and regional trade developments. Copper, aluminum, and nickel face distinct challenges, each reacting differently to shifting supply and demand dynamics.

  • Copper prices experienced fluctuations due to recent tariff threats, prompting a surge in U.S. imports.
  • Europe Impact: Spot premiums reached record highs in Germany ($250/tonne) due to supply shortages (Financial Times ).
  • LME Prices: Copper traded around $9,400 per tonne, nearly $700 less than U.S. Comex prices, creating arbitrage opportunities.
  • Current Price Movement: Copper is down 2.31% week-over-week.
  • US-China Trade Easing: A trade truce has stabilized copper prices slightly in London, but inflation concerns persist (Bloomberg).

Aluminum

  • U.S. Market: Domestic demand for aluminum is steady, despite a broader contraction in the manufacturing sector (MetalMiner).
  • Price Change: Aluminum prices dipped by 0.66% this week.
  • Outlook: Analysts closely watch how U.S. manufacturing trends might impact aluminum demand.

Stainless Steel

Nickel prices have shown strength, climbing to levels not seen in recent months. However, stainless steel prices remain subdued, with limited growth prospects in the near term. Market participants are advised to monitor these trends closely, as shifts in industrial demand could influence future pricing.

India’s recent decision to impose a 12% safeguard duty on Chinese steel products, aimed at protecting its local industry (MetalMiner), could impact the global stainless steel market. This protectionist measure could limit Chinese steel exports, potentially affecting raw material prices, including nickel.

Ferrous Metals:

The ferrous market is experiencing mixed signals. North American prices are holding steady, while global dynamics create new opportunities and challenges. Regional trade developments and shifting demand are key factors to watch.

  • Downward Pressure: Fastmarkets’ Trend Indicator dropped to 25.4, signaling a high chance of falling prices (Fastmarkets).
  • Mixed Global Picture:
    • U.S. steel prices saw a slight increase (+1.55%) to $435.31 per ton (TradingEconomics).
    • China’s steel exports to ASEAN surged by 32% in Q1 2025, making up 70% of total Chinese steel exports (MetalMiner).
    • India’s 12% duty on Chinese steel aims to protect local manufacturers, which may shift regional trade dynamics.

Catalytic Converters:

Catalytic converter prices have seen an upswing, driven by steady growth in platinum and palladium markets. Rhodium prices remain inconsistent, but the overall trend points towards increased demand. This is particularly true as global auto sales pick up, spurred by lower interest rates and improved consumer sentiment.

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Carbide & Rare Earth News: Rising on Domestic Demand

Carbide pricing has increased over the last few weeks, with markets up by $0.25–$0.40 per pound. This uptick is driven by a combination of rising manufacturing activity and growing demand for carbide-based materials, which bodes well for continued manufacturing growth through the rest of 2025. With increased usage in industrial tooling and machining, this trend is expected to remain strong as production facilities ramp up operations.

RRCarbide is a reliable nationwide buyer that offers competitive quotes and free shipping options. Get a quote from our team today and take advantage of these benefits.

Other Scraps News

Electronic Waste

Thai authorities seized 238 tons of illegally imported electronic waste from the U.S., the largest such seizure this year. The waste, mislabeled as mixed metal scrap, primarily consisted of circuit boards mixed with metal scraps. This incident underscores the growing global concerns about electronic waste management and the importance of proper recycling practices (AP News).

Technological Innovations

Advancements in sorting and shredding technologies are quietly reshaping the recycled scrap metal market. These innovations enhance efficiency and sustainability, enabling better recovery rates and quality in recycled materials, which is crucial for meeting the rising demand in various industries (FMIBlog).

Stay tuned for next week’s update as we continue to monitor market trends and provide insights to help you make informed decisions in the scrap metal industry.

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Disclaimer: This material is solely for informational and educational purposes. It should not be interpreted as a suggestion or recommendation to buy or sell any commodity or associated securities. The author, Tom Buechel, holds no positions in the commodities or securities mentioned herein. His analysis often incorporates broad perspectives to foster diversity and objectivity. He may occasionally feature contrarian views and various market influences to maintain an unbiased approach. Content provided by iScrap App.