North American Scrap Market Holds Steady as Copper, Aluminum Inch Lower on the Index
Copper and aluminum were the only categories to move on the ScrapMonster Price Index Thursday, both slipping modestly, while steel, stainless steel, and brass/bronze held firm.
What Readers Should Know
- Copper and aluminum were the only two of five tracked scrap categories to post price changes on August 13, 2026.
- Clean copper grades, including #1 Copper Wire and Tubing and #1 Copper Bare Bright, each fell $0.02 per lb.
- E.C. Aluminum Wire recorded the largest single decline of the day, down $0.03 per lb.
- Steel, stainless steel, and brass/bronze scrap prices were unchanged across all tracked grades.
- Alternator scrap and most radiator and transformer scrap grades held flat across categories.
MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): North American scrap metal prices remained broadly stable on the ScrapMonster Price Index as of Thursday, August 13, 2026. Copper and aluminum were the only categories to record changes, with both showing modest declines compared with the previous day.
Why Prices Moved
Only two of the five metal categories tracked by the Index shifted during the session. Copper recorded a marginal decrease, and aluminum posted a slight decline. The remaining three categories were unchanged from the prior day.
- Copper: Recorded a marginal decrease.
- Aluminum: Posted a slight decline.
- Brass/Bronze: Prices remained unchanged.
- Stainless Steel: Continued to hold steady.
- Steel: Maintained a flat price trend.
Copper Scrap Prices
Alternator Scrap prices remained unchanged from the previous day.
- #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, and #1 Copper Bare Bright each declined by $0.02 per lb.
- #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery and #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery prices held steady.
- #3 Copper–Light Copper recorded a $0.02 per lb decrease.
- Copper Radiator Scrap, Copper Transformer Scrap, Cu Yokes, Cu/Al Radiator Ends, Cu/Al Radiators, Cu/Al Radiators/Fe, Harness Wire 35% Recovery, Romex Wire, Heater Cores, Scrap Electric Motors, Starters, Sealed Units, and Xmas Lights remained unchanged from the previous day.
Aluminum Scrap Prices
- 1100 Scrap, 3003 Scrap, 356 Aluminum Wheels, 6063 Extrusions, 6063 Extrusions/Fe, 5052 Scrap, and 6061 Extrusions fell by $0.02 per lb from the previous day.
- Al/Cu Radiators, Al/Cu Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Radiators/Fe, and Aluminum Transformer remained unchanged.
- Aluminum Radiators and Breakage 50% Recovery both registered a $0.01 per lb decline.
- E.C. Aluminum Wire decreased by $0.03 per lb.
- Mixed Aluminum Turnings slipped by $0.01 per lb.
- Chrome Wheels, Litho Sheets, MLC Clips, Old Cast, UBC, Old Sheet, Painted Siding, and Zorba 90% NF each recorded a $0.02 per lb decrease from the previous day's levels.
Also Read
Steel Scrap Prices
- #1 Bundle and #1 Busheling prices remained unchanged.
- #1 HMS and HMS 80/20 also held steady.
- Sheet Metal, Shredded Auto Scrap, and Structural Steel prices remained unchanged on the Index.
Stainless Steel Scrap Prices
- 201 SS and 301 SS prices remained unchanged from the previous day.
- 304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning, 309 SS, and 310 SS continued to hold steady.
- 330 SS and 316 SS Solid were unchanged on the Index.
Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices
The North American brass/bronze market remained stable on the Index, with no price changes recorded.
- 70/30 Brass Scrap, 80/20 Brass Scrap, 85/15 Brass Scrap, and Brass Radiator Scrap held steady at the previous day's levels.
- Brass Radiator/Fe and Brass Radiator Ends both remained unchanged.
- Red Brass, Red Borings, and Yellow Brass showed no movement on the Index.
What Happens Next
With copper and aluminum the only categories showing movement, market participants will watch whether these modest declines extend into the next session or steel, stainless, and brass/bronze grades continue their unchanged run on the Index.
People Also Ask
Which scrap metal categories changed price on August 13, 2026?
Only copper and aluminum recorded price changes; steel, stainless steel, and brass/bronze remained unchanged.
How much did #1 Copper Wire and Tubing prices fall?
#1 Copper Wire and Tubing declined by $0.02 per lb from the previous day.
Which aluminum grade saw the biggest decline?
E.C. Aluminum Wire posted the largest decline among aluminum grades, falling $0.03 per lb.
Did steel scrap prices change on the Index?
No. #1 Bundle, #1 Busheling, #1 HMS, HMS 80/20, Sheet Metal, Shredded Auto Scrap, and Structural Steel all remained unchanged.
Were brass and bronze scrap prices affected?
No. Brass/Bronze scrap, including Red Brass and Yellow Brass, showed no price movement on the Index.