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SCRAPMONSTER | DAILY SCRAP METAL PRICE REPORT
North American Scrap Metal Prices: Copper Gains 2¢/Lb, Aluminum Wire Rises – November 4, 2026
North American scrap metal prices were largely unchanged on November 4, 2026, with four major clean copper grades rising 2¢/lb and E.C. Aluminum Wire gaining 1¢/lb. Brass/bronze, stainless steel and steel benchmarks remained steady on the ScrapMonster Price Index.
Market at a Glance
Daily ScrapMonster Price Index movements | November 4, 2026
MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): North American scrap metal buying benchmarks were mostly unchanged on Wednesday, November 4, with selective increases in copper and aluminum on the ScrapMonster Price Index.
#1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 and #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, and #3 Copper-Light Copper each advanced 2¢/lb, following much sharper declines in the previous session.
E.C. Aluminum Wire was the only aluminum grade to increase, gaining 1¢/lb. Brass/bronze, stainless steel and ferrous scrap prices remained unchanged.
SCRAPMONSTER EDGE | MARKET ANALYSIS
Copper's 2¢ Rebound Recovers Just 12.5% of Tuesday's Loss
Wednesday's modest copper recovery followed a 16¢/lb decline on November 3 across the same four clean grades.
TWO-SESSION COPPER MOVEMENT
▼ 14¢/lb
Net change after Tuesday's 16¢ decline and Wednesday's 2¢ rebound.
The latest 2¢/lb increase recovered just 12.5% of that decline, leaving all four grades 14¢/lb lower over the two sessions.
E.C. Aluminum Wire also edged higher by 1¢/lb after falling 2¢/lb on Tuesday. The wire benchmark therefore remained 1¢/lb below its November 2 level.
Meanwhile, steel benchmarks held steady following Tuesday's increases of $10–$15 per metric ton across five ferrous grades.
OPERATOR TAKEAWAY
Wednesday's gains indicate a limited recovery rather than a broad market rebound. Copper and E.C. Aluminum Wire recovered only part of their previous losses, while most other categories showed no new adjustments. Processors and buyers should assess the latest movements against the preceding sessions rather than focusing on a single day's direction.
Copper Scrap Prices
Copper prices strengthened across four major clean scrap grades, each gaining 2¢/lb:
- #1 Copper Bare Bright
- #1 Copper Wire and Tubing
- #2 Copper Wire and Tubing
- #3 Copper-Light Copper
Copper Radiator Scrap and both insulated copper wire recovery categories remained unchanged.
→ UNCHANGED GRADES
Alternator Scrap, #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery, #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery, Copper Radiator Scrap, Copper Transformer Scrap, Cu Yokes, Cu/Al Radiator Ends, Cu/Al Radiators, Cu/Al Radiators/Fe, Harness Wire 35% Recovery, Heater Cores, Romex Wire, Scrap Electric Motors, Starters, Sealed Units and Xmas Lights.
Aluminum Scrap Prices
Aluminum scrap prices remained largely stable, with E.C. Aluminum Wire recording the only increase at 1¢/lb.
→ UNCHANGED ALUMINUM GRADES
Unchanged wrought and extrusion grades: 1100 Scrap, 3003 Scrap, 5052 Scrap, 6061 Extrusions, 6063 Extrusions, 6063 Extrusions/Fe, Litho Sheets, MLC Clips, Old Sheet and Painted Siding.
Unchanged cast, wheel and other mixed grades: 356 Aluminum Wheels, Chrome Wheels, Old Cast, UBC and Zorba 90% INF.
Unchanged radiator and recovery grades: Al/Cu Radiators, Al/Cu Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Radiators, Aluminum Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Transformers and Breakage 50% Recovery.
Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices
Brass and bronze scrap prices held steady across all nine reported grades, following the declines recorded on November 3.
→ UNCHANGED GRADES
70/30 Brass Scrap, 80/20 Brass Scrap, 85/15 Brass Scrap, Brass Radiator, Brass Radiator/Fe, Brass Radiator Ends, Red Brass, Red Borings and Yellow Brass.
Stainless Steel Scrap Prices
Stainless steel benchmarks remained unchanged across all eight reported grades.
→ UNCHANGED GRADES
201 SS, 301 SS, 304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning, 309 SS, 310 SS, 316 SS Solid and 330 SS.
Steel Scrap Prices
North American ferrous scrap buying benchmarks recorded no additional movements after selected steel grades increased in the previous session.
→ UNCHANGED GRADES
#1 Bundle, #1 Busheling, #1 HMS, HMS 80/20, Sheet Metal, Shredded Auto Scrap and Structural Steel.
The unchanged session followed November 3 gains of $15/MT for #1 HMS, Shredded Auto Scrap and Structural Steel, and $10/MT for HMS 80/20 and Sheet Metal.
