North American Scrap Prices Fall as Copper Drops 13 Cents, Stainless Steel Weakens

Clean copper scrap fell $0.13 per lb on the ScrapMonster Price Index for September 1, while brass/bronze declined broadly and stainless steel lost as much as $0.05 per lb. Aluminum and steel were unchanged.

By Carolina Curiel
Published September 2, 2026

MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): As of Tuesday, September 1, 2026, North American scrap metal prices recorded a broad decline on the ScrapMonster Price Index.

Steel and aluminum scrap were the only major categories to hold steady from the previous day. Copper, brass/bronze and stainless steel scrap all recorded declines on the Index.

Daily Market Snapshot

• Copper: Weak trend, led by sharp declines in clean copper grades.
• Aluminum: Flat trend across listed grades.
• Brass/Bronze: Widespread decline across major grades.
• Stainless Steel: Broad-based declines, led by 330 SS.
• Steel: Held steady across listed grades.

North America Reverses Prior Session as China Moves Higher

The September 1 decline marked a reversal from the previous North American session. On August 31, major copper scrap grades had risen by as much as $0.04 per lb, while stainless steel advanced across all listed grades, led by a $0.05-per-lb increase in 330 SS.

Regional price direction also diverged on September 1. On the ScrapMonster Price Index, Chinese copper, aluminum and stainless steel scrap prices posted gains across several grades, while Chinese steel and brass/bronze scrap remained steady.

Copper Scrap Prices

Copper scrap prices posted the sharpest losses among the major North American categories tracked during the session. Alternator scrap was unchanged from the previous day.

#1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, #1 Copper Bare Bright and #3 Copper-Light Copper each fell $0.13 per lb.

#1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery and #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery each declined $0.03 per lb.

Copper Radiator scrap fell $0.04 per lb. Copper Transformer prices were unchanged, while Cu Yokes declined $0.01 per lb.

Cu/Al Radiator Ends, Cu/Al Radiators and Cu/Al Radiators/Fe held steady on the Index.

Harness Wire 35% Recovery and Heater Cores each lost $0.02 per lb, while Romex Wire declined $0.03 per lb.

Scrap Electric Motors, Starters and Sealed Units recorded no price variation.

Aluminum Scrap Prices

Aluminum scrap prices remained flat across all listed grades.

1100 Scrap, 3003 Scrap, 356 Aluminum Wheels, 6063 Extrusions/Fe, 6061 Extrusions, MLC Clips, Mixed Aluminum Turnings, Old Cast, UBC, Old Sheet, Painted Siding and Zorba 90% NF held steady on the Index.

5052 Scrap, 6063 Extrusions, E.C. Aluminum Wire, Chrome Wheels, Litho Sheets, Al/Cu Radiators, Al/Cu Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Radiators, Aluminum Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Transformers and Breakage 50% Recovery also recorded no change from the previous day's prices.

Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices

Brass and bronze scrap prices declined broadly across the North American region on the Index.

70/30 Brass Scrap, 80/20 Brass Scrap, 85/15 Brass Scrap and Brass Radiator each declined $0.03 per lb.

Brass Radiator/Fe and Brass Radiator Ends were unchanged from the previous day's levels.

Red Brass, Rod Borings and Yellow Brass each declined $0.03 per lb.

Stainless Steel Scrap Prices

Stainless steel scrap prices moved lower across all listed grades, with declines ranging from $0.01 to $0.05 per lb.

201 SS declined $0.01 per lb.

301 SS, 304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning, 309 SS and 316 SS Solid each fell $0.03 per lb from the previous day's prices.

310 SS declined $0.04 per lb, while 330 SS posted the largest stainless steel move, falling $0.05 per lb.

Steel Scrap Prices

Steel scrap prices were unchanged on the Index.

• #1 Bundle: No change.
• #1 Busheling: Flat.
• #1 HMS: Held steady.
• HMS 80/20: Stable.

Sheet Metal, Shredded Auto Scrap and Structural Steel also recorded no change from the previous day's levels.