North American Scrap Market Mostly Steady as Copper Gains 3¢, Aluminum Slips
North American scrap buying benchmarks were largely stable on September 11, with major clean copper grades rising $0.03 per lb while aluminum weakened across a broader group of grades. Steel, stainless steel and brass/bronze remained unchanged.
By Carolina Curiel
Published September 14, 2026
Market data: September 11, 2026
Key Points
- #1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 and #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, and #3 Copper-Light Copper each gained $0.03 per lb.
- Aluminum weakened more broadly, with most declining grades down $0.01 per lb and 5052 Scrap, 6063 Extrusions and E.C. Aluminum Wire down $0.02 per lb.
- Steel and stainless steel scrap prices were unchanged across all listed grades.
- Brass and bronze scrap prices also held flat, including Red Brass and Yellow Brass.
MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): North American scrap metal prices were mostly unchanged on the ScrapMonster Price Index as of Friday, September 11, 2026, although the non-ferrous market showed a clear split between firmer clean copper and weaker aluminum.
Steel and stainless steel scrap prices recorded no change. Brass and bronze also held steady, while four major clean copper grades increased by $0.03 per lb. Aluminum moved in the opposite direction, with declines of $0.01 to $0.02 per lb across much of the tracked slate.
Copper Scrap Prices
Major clean copper grades posted modest gains. #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, #1 Copper Bare Bright and #3 Copper-Light Copper each increased by $0.03 per lb.
Alternator scrap remained unchanged. #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery and #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery also recorded no day-over-day change.
Copper Radiator scrap, Copper Transformer Scrap, Cu Yokes, Cu/Al Radiator Ends, Cu/Al Radiators, Cu/Al Radiators/Fe, Harness Wire 35% Recovery, Heater Cores, Romex Wire, Scrap Electric Motors, Starters, Sealed Units and Xmas Lights all maintained their previous-day levels.
Aluminum Scrap Prices
Aluminum recorded the broadest weakness of the major categories. 5052 Scrap, 6063 Extrusions and E.C. Aluminum Wire each declined by $0.02 per lb.
1100 Scrap, 3003 Scrap, 356 Aluminum Wheels, 6061 Extrusions and 6063 Extrusions/Fe each fell by $0.01 per lb.
Breakage 50% Recovery, Chrome Wheels, Litho Sheets, MLC Clips, Mixed Aluminum Turnings, Old Cast, UBC, Old Sheet, Painted Siding and Zorba 90% NF also declined by $0.01 per lb.
Al/Cu Radiators, Al/Cu Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Radiators, Aluminum Radiators/Fe and Aluminum Transformers remained unchanged on the Index.
Steel Scrap Prices
Steel scrap prices remained flat across all listed benchmark grades.
#1 Bundle, #1 Busheling and #1 HMS recorded no change. HMS 80/20, Sheet Metal, Shredded Auto Scrap and Structural Steel also maintained their previous-day levels.
Stainless Steel Scrap Prices
Stainless steel prices were unchanged across the tracked grades.
201 SS, 301 SS, 304 SS Solid and 304 SS Turning held steady. Prices for 309 SS, 310 SS, 330 SS and 316 SS Solid also recorded no day-over-day movement.
Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices
North American brass and bronze scrap prices were unchanged on the Index.
70/30 Brass Scrap, 80/20 Brass Scrap, 85/15 Brass Scrap and Brass Radiator scrap maintained their previous-day levels. Brass Radiator/Fe and Brass Radiator Ends were also unchanged.
Red Brass, Red Borings and Yellow Brass held steady.