By 
Copper, Aluminum Scrap Edge Lower as Broader Selloff Narrows
North American scrap buying benchmarks remained under pressure on September 30, but the weakness narrowed considerably from the previous session. Major clean copper grades fell 2¢/lb and selected aluminum grades slipped 1¢/lb, while steel, brass/bronze and stainless steel held steady.
By Carolina Curiel
Published October 1, 2026
Market data: September 30, 2026
Summary Points
- Major clean copper grades declined another 2¢/lb.
- Selected aluminum grades moved 1¢/lb lower across extrusions, wire, cast, sheet, UBC and Zorba.
- Steel remained unchanged across all listed benchmark grades.
- Brass/bronze and stainless steel stabilized after declines in the previous session.
MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): North American scrap metal buying benchmarks remained slightly softer on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, although the decline was considerably more selective than a day earlier.
Copper and aluminum were the only major categories to move lower on the ScrapMonster Price Index. Steel, brass/bronze and stainless steel were unchanged.
Clean copper grades fell 2¢/lb, while the aluminum declines were limited to 1¢/lb across the affected grades. The session therefore marked a shift from Tuesday's broader weakness, when copper, aluminum, brass and stainless all declined.
| Metal | September 30 Move | Market Read |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | ▼ Up to 2¢/lb | Clean grades eased; most secondary grades flat |
| Aluminum | ▼ 1¢/lb | Broad but modest declines |
| Brass/Bronze | → Flat | Major grades stabilized |
| Stainless Steel | → Flat | All listed grades unchanged |
| Steel | → Flat | All listed ferrous grades unchanged |
SCRAPMONSTER EDGE
The important shift Wednesday was not the size of the decline, but how much the weakness narrowed. Copper remained under pressure, although the 2¢/lb move was far smaller than Tuesday's 14¢/lb clean-copper decline. Brass and stainless stopped falling altogether, while steel remained unchanged for a second consecutive session.
Clean Copper Slips Another 2¢/Lb
Copper remained the clearest area of weakness, although Wednesday's declines were modest compared with the previous session.
#1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing and #3 Copper-Light Copper each fell 2¢/lb.
The decline was concentrated in clean copper. #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery and #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery were unchanged.
Copper Radiator Scrap, Copper Transformer Scrap, Cu Yokes, Cu/Al Radiator Ends, Cu/Al Radiators and Cu/Al Radiators/Fe also held at their previous-session levels.
Harness Wire 35% Recovery, Romex Wire, Heater Cores, Scrap Electric Motors, Starters, Sealed Units and Xmas Lights recorded no day-over-day movement.
COPPER READ
Copper declined for another session, but the magnitude changed sharply. Major clean grades fell 2¢/lb on September 30 after dropping 14¢/lb the previous day. At the same time, insulated wire and most secondary copper categories stopped moving lower.
Aluminum Declines Remain Broad but Modest
Aluminum showed broader participation in Wednesday's decline, but every reported decrease was limited to 1¢/lb.
1100 Scrap, 3003 Scrap, 356 Aluminum Wheels, 6063 Extrusions, 6063 Extrusions/Fe, 5052 Scrap and 6061 Extrusions each moved 1¢/lb lower.
E.C. Aluminum Wire also declined 1¢/lb.
Chrome Wheels, Litho Sheets, MLC Clips, Mixed Aluminum Turnings, Old Cast, Old Sheet, Painted Siding, UBC and Zorba 90% NF each fell 1¢/lb.
Several categories avoided the decline. Al/Cu Radiators, Al/Cu Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Radiators, Aluminum Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Transformers and Breakage 50% Recovery were unchanged from the September 29 session.
Brass and Stainless Stabilize
Two categories that had weakened a day earlier showed no further movement on September 30.
Brass and bronze scrap was unchanged across the listed grades.
70/30 Brass Scrap, 80/20 Brass Scrap, 85/15 Brass Scrap and Brass Radiator all held steady.
Brass Radiator/Fe and Brass Radiator Ends were unchanged, as were Red Brass, Red Borings and Yellow Brass.
Stainless steel also stabilized after Tuesday's broad decline.
201 SS, 301 SS, 304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning, 309 SS, 310 SS, 330 SS and 316 SS Solid all recorded no day-over-day movement.
The flat stainless reading is notable because every listed stainless grade had moved lower during the previous session.
Steel Holds Steady for a Second Session
Steel scrap remained the most stable major category in the North American benchmark set.
#1 Bundle, #1 Busheling, #1 HMS and HMS 80/20 were unchanged.
Sheet Metal, Structural Steel and Shredded Auto Scrap also recorded no variation.
Steel had also remained completely flat during the September 29 session, making ferrous scrap the clearest area of short-term price stability across the major categories tracked.
Market Read
September 30 extended the softer tone in North American scrap, but the market was considerably less defensive than it had been a day earlier.
Copper remained under pressure, with clean grades losing another 2¢/lb, while aluminum registered a widespread but shallow 1¢/lb adjustment.
What changed was the rest of the market. Brass and stainless steel, both of which had declined on September 29, stopped moving lower. Steel remained flat across every listed grade.
The result was a more selective session: weakness remained visible in copper and aluminum, but it no longer extended across the broader benchmark set.
For scrap sellers, processors and buyers, that distinction matters. Wednesday's Index did not signal another broad-based selloff. Instead, the data showed pressure concentrated in two nonferrous categories while the remaining major markets stabilized.
Benchmark buying-price move • Exact live price levels are available to ScrapMonster Premium members. Local quotes vary by grade and location.
