This Week’s Scrap Metal Prices & Market News

Scrap Market Update: Copper Gains & Nickel Concerns Amid Supply Disruptions

Report Date: 1/15/2025

Hello Scrappers!

Over the past week, the scrap metal market has exhibited stability and incremental growth across key sectors. As the global economy adjusts to the start of 2025, market trends are being shaped by weather-related disruptions, international supply decisions, and currency fluctuations. This report delves into the latest trends for non-ferrous metals, ferrous metals, catalytic converters, and rare earth materials to provide scrappers with actionable insights.

Should you HOLD or SELL your scrap?

Non-Ferrous Metal News: Copper Climbs, Nickel Slides

Copper prices have continued their upward climb with small incremental gains, reflecting market optimism but not driven by a surge in demand. This stabilization could be attributed to global markets resuming normal operations post-holiday season or broader economic sentiment. Scrappers should consider reporting their local prices and using those insights to negotiate power with scrapyards better.

Domestically, mills in several parts of the U.S. are under pressure and actively seeking scrap as consecutive winter storms have severely disrupted scrap collection and transportation (RecyclingToday). This tightening supply has contributed to the steady pricing of non-ferrous metals like copper. Meanwhile, the weaker U.S. dollar, influenced by phased tariff discussions, has slightly buoyed commodities priced in USD.

Looking ahead, scrappers should closely monitor China’s long-term copper demand. Reports suggest that China’s copper demand may peak by 2030, with a sharp slowdown expected thereafter. This prediction could influence both future scrap pricing and export opportunities.

Nickel prices have begun to trend downward, with projections indicating a potential 20% drop in 2025 due to increased global supply. Adding to this trend, Indonesia, the world’s largest nickel producer, plans to cut its production quota from 272 million tons in 2024 to 150 million tons in 2025 (OilPrice). This reduction could stabilize or reverse nickel’s price decline later in the year, but for now, stainless steel prices are expected to stay under pressure.

Ferrous Metals Update: Steel Mills Struggle with Supply

Steel prices increased by $10-$15 per ton in some regions. While this rise appears unjustified by increased demand, it’s largely due to reduced scrap availability caused by weather-related disruptions and end-of-year shipping slowdowns. Mills are currently understocked, which has created temporary price pressure.

Despite the short-term spike, large-scale price jumps are not anticipated unless demand grows significantly. However, with historically low steel prices behind us, modest improvements could occur throughout 2025, particularly if oil prices stabilize or decline.

Additionally, tariff-related discussions under the Trump administration have weakened the U.S. dollar, making U.S. scrap exports more attractive internationally and slightly boosting domestic steel pricing.

Catalytic Converter Recycling News: Stable with No Surprises

Catalytic converter prices have returned to pre-holiday levels, reflecting a stable but stagnant market. Precious metals like platinum, palladium, and rhodium remain relatively flat, offering little room for significant price increases. Even gold’s recent surge to record highs hasn’t translated into gains for these metals.

RRCats quotes converters six days a week, has a 10-day price lock guarantee, and offers free shipping on all OEM units. Get a quote today!

Boosted Catalytic Converter Prices at RRCats

For a price lock of 10 days, don’t hesitate to contact the RRCats.com Team for a better idea of catalytic converter markets and free shipping on OEM cats.

Carbide & Rare Earth News

Tungsten-based products such as carbide have shown continued price strength, driven by consistent demand from manufacturing sectors. Scrappers working with carbide should benefit from these ongoing trends, as demand is likely to remain high through 2025.

However, specialty metals like Inconel and Hastelloy are facing downward pressure due to the declining nickel market, which has reduced the value of nickel-based alloys.

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

As we move further into 2025, economic stability is evident, but the scrap market’s direction will depend heavily on macroeconomic factors like interest rate policies and international trade agreements. With new leadership in Washington, it will be crucial to keep an eye on how proposed executive orders and regulatory changes might affect scrap exports and domestic demand.

This week’s insights underscore the importance of staying informed and proactive in your scrapping strategies. With domestic mills under pressure, weather-driven supply disruptions, and fluctuating international demand, tracking the markets and negotiating wisely is more important than ever. Use this knowledge to secure better deals and identify key opportunities in the evolving scrap landscape.

Stay tuned for weekly updates as we track these developments and help guide your scrapping decisions in 2025!

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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.