North American Scrap Prices Trend Lower Across Key Metal Categories on the Index- May 18, 2026

Only Brass/Bronze and Steel scrap prices held steady over the previous day’s prices.

TORONTO (Scrap Monster): As of Monday, May 18, 2026, North American scrap metal prices recorded modest decline on the ScrapMonster Price Index.

Only Brass/Bronze and Steel scrap prices held steady over the previous day’s prices. All other scrap categories recorded decline.

Copper: Weak trend
Aluminum: Recorded decline
Brass/Bronze: Stable/Unchanged
Stainless Steel: Widespread decline
Steel: Flat trend

Copper Scrap Prices

The price of Alternator scrap recorded no variation over the previous day.

The price of #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, #1 Copper Bare Bright, and #3 Copper- Light Copper declined by $0.01 per Lb.

The prices of #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery and #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery were unmoved on the Index.

Copper Radiator scrap prices recorded no change on a daily basis.

Copper Transformer prices were unmoved on the Index.

The prices of Cu Yokes were flat over the previous day.

Cu/Al Radiator Ends, Cu/Al Radiators and Cu/Al Radiators/Fe prices were flat as of May 18, 2026.

Harness Wire 35% Recovery, Romex Wire and Heater Cores prices held steady on the Index.

The prices of Scrap Electric Motors, Starters, Sealed units, and Xmas Lights saw no fluctuation from the previous day’s price levels.

Aluminum Scrap Prices

1100 Scrap prices were down by $0.01 per Lb over the day.

The prices of 3003 Scrap, 356 Aluminum Wheels, and 6063 Extrusions/Fe also dropped by $0.01 per Lb.

The prices of 6063 Extrusions recorded a decline of $0.01 per Lb over the day.

Also, prices of 5052 Scrap and 6061 Extrusions saw a dip of $0.01 per Lb each when compared with the prior day.

The prices of Al/Cu Radiators and Al/Cu Radiators/Fe recorded no change over the day.

Aluminum radiators' prices saw no variation when matched with the previous day’s prices.

Aluminum Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Transformers and Breakage 50% Recovery prices were unchanged on the Index as of May 18, 2026.

E.C Aluminum Wire prices were down by $.02 per Lb on the Index.

Chrome Wheels, Litho Sheets, and MLC Clips prices dipped by $0.01 per Lb when compared with the previous day’s price levels.

Mixed Aluminum Turnings prices also declined by $0.01 per Lb.

The prices of Old Cast and UBC dipped by $0.01 per Lb over the previous day.

Old Sheet, Painted Siding, and Zorba 90% NF prices also recorded decline by $0.01 per Lb on the Index.

Steel Scrap Prices

#1 Bundle: No change
#1 Busheling: Flat trend
#1 HMS: Held steady
HMS 80/20: Stable pricing

Sheet Metal, Shredded Auto Scrap, and Structural Steel also saw no change in prices as of May 18, 2026.

Stainless Steel Scrap Prices

201 SS, 301 SS, and 304 SS Solid prices were down by $0.01 per Lb each over the previous day.

304 SS Turning prices also edged lower by $0.01 per Lb as of May 18, 2026.

309 SS and 310 SS prices dropped by $0.01 per Lb and $0.02 per Lb respectively from the previous day’s level.

330 SS prices reported a dip of $0.03 per Lb over the previous day’s prices.

Also, 316 SS Solid prices saw a slight decline of $0.01 per Lb on the Index.

Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices

The Brass/Bronze Scrap prices in the North American region witnessed no change on the Index.

70/30 Brass Scrap: Flat trend
80/20 Brass Scrap: No variation
85/15 Brass Scrap: Held steady
Brass Radiator: Reported no variation

Brass Radiator /Fe and Brass Radiator Ends prices recorded no fluctuation from the previous day's price levels as of May 18, 2026.

Additionally, Red Brass, Red Borings, and Yellow Brass prices remained flat on the Index.