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North American Scrap Metal Prices: Copper Falls 14¢/Lb, Brass Declines – October 30, 2026
North American scrap prices weakened on October 30, led by a 14¢/lb decline across four major clean copper grades. Seven listed brass/bronze grades also fell, while aluminum, stainless steel and ferrous scrap benchmarks remained steady on the ScrapMonster Price Index.
By Carolina Curiel
Published: November 2, 2026
Market data: October 30, 2026
Market at a Glance
- Copper: ▼ 14¢/lb across four clean grades; seven other grades declined.
- Aluminum: → Flat across all 23 reported grades.
- Brass/Bronze: ▼ 3¢/lb across seven named grades; Brass Radiator Ends unchanged.
- Stainless Steel: → Flat across seven explicitly listed grades.
- Steel: → Flat across all seven reported benchmarks.
MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): North American scrap metal buying benchmarks declined selectively on Friday, October 30, as copper extended its recent losses and several brass/bronze categories weakened on the ScrapMonster Price Index.
#1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 and #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, and #3 Copper-Light Copper each fell 14¢/lb. Seven other copper grades also declined, while Red Brass, Yellow Brass and five additional brass/bronze grades lost 3¢/lb each. Aluminum, stainless steel and ferrous scrap remained unchanged across their explicitly reported benchmarks.
ScrapMonster Edge: Copper's Two-Day Decline Reaches 19¢/Lb
Four major clean copper grades fell 5¢/lb on October 29, followed by another 14¢/lb on October 30. Their combined two-session decline reached 19¢/lb, more than offsetting the 11¢/lb gain recorded on October 27.
The retreat was not shared across every metal category. Brass/bronze declined, but all reported aluminum and steel grades remained steady.
Operator takeaway: Copper's sharp reversal underscores the importance of monitoring consecutive buying-benchmark adjustments rather than isolated daily moves. The latest decline was concentrated in copper and brass, while other reported scrap categories showed no new price movement.
Copper Scrap Prices
Copper registered the session's largest declines, with four major clean grades each dropping 14¢/lb: #1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing and #3 Copper-Light Copper.
Copper Radiator Scrap fell 6¢/lb.
Three grades decreased 3¢/lb each: #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery, #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery and Romex Wire.
Harness Wire 35% Recovery and Heater Cores declined 2¢/lb each, while Cu Yokes slipped 1¢/lb.
Unchanged: Alternator Scrap, Copper Transformer Scrap, Cu/Al Radiator Ends, Cu/Al Radiators, Cu/Al Radiators/Fe, Scrap Electric Motors, Starters, Sealed Units and Xmas Lights.
Aluminum Scrap Prices
Aluminum prices remained unchanged across all 23 reported grades, including E.C. Aluminum Wire, 6063 Extrusions, Old Cast and UBC.
Wrought, extrusion and sheet grades unchanged: 1100 Scrap, 3003 Scrap, 5052 Scrap, 6061 Extrusions, 6063 Extrusions, 6063 Extrusions/Fe, Litho Sheets, MLC Clips, Old Sheet and Painted Siding.
Cast, wheel and mixed grades unchanged: 356 Aluminum Wheels, Chrome Wheels, Mixed Aluminum Turnings, Old Cast, UBC and Zorba 90% NF.
Wire, radiator and recovery grades unchanged: E.C. Aluminum Wire, Al/Cu Radiators, Al/Cu Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Radiators, Aluminum Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Transformers and Breakage 50% Recovery.
Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices
Brass/bronze prices weakened across seven named grades, each declining 3¢/lb.
Declining grades: 70/30 Brass Scrap, 80/20 Brass Scrap, 85/15 Brass Scrap, Brass Radiator Scrap, Red Brass, Red Borings and Yellow Brass.
Also, Brass Radiator/Fe prices edged lower by 1¢/lb.
Unchanged: Brass Radiator Ends.
Stainless Steel Scrap Prices
Stainless steel buying benchmarks were unchanged across the seven explicitly listed grades.
Unchanged: 201 SS, 301 SS, 304 SS Solid, 309 SS, 310 SS, 316 SS Solid and 330 SS.
Steel Scrap Prices
North American ferrous scrap benchmarks held steady across all seven reported categories.
Unchanged: #1 Bundle, #1 Busheling, #1 HMS, HMS 80/20, Sheet Metal, Shredded Auto Scrap and Structural Steel.
None of the reported ferrous grades registered a day-over-day adjustment on October 30.
Pricing scope: This report covers day-over-day movements in ScrapMonster North American scrap buying benchmarks. Actual yard quotations vary by grade, material quality, recovery, quantity, location and buyer. Current proprietary Premium buying-price levels are not disclosed.
