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North American Scrap Metal Prices: Copper Rebounds 10¢/Lb – October 23, 2026
North American scrap benchmarks recovered on October 23 as major clean copper grades gained 10¢/lb, reversing part of Thursday's sharp decline. Aluminum and brass/bronze also advanced, while steel and stainless steel remained unchanged on the ScrapMonster Price Index.
Report date: October 26, 2026
Market data: October 23, 2026
Market at a Glance
- Copper: Major clean grades ↑10¢/lb.
- Aluminum: Most advancing grades ↑1¢/lb; E.C. Aluminum Wire ↑2¢/lb.
- Brass/Bronze: Major grades ↑2¢/lb.
- Stainless Steel: → Flat across all listed grades.
- Steel: → Flat, retaining earlier gains.
MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): North American scrap metal buying benchmarks moved broadly higher on Friday, October 23, 2026, led by a recovery in clean copper scrap prices on the ScrapMonster Price Index.
#1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing and #3 Copper-Light Copper each advanced 10¢/lb.
The recovery extended to aluminum and brass/bronze, although gains in those categories were smaller. E.C. Aluminum Wire increased 2¢/lb, while most other advancing aluminum grades added 1¢/lb. Major brass and bronze benchmarks also gained 2¢/lb.
Steel and stainless steel remained unchanged, creating a clear distinction between Friday's recovering nonferrous scrap markets and the comparatively stable ferrous and stainless categories.
Benchmark buying-price move: ScrapMonster reports benchmark market movements. Local quotations can vary by grade, quality, quantity, location and individual buyer conditions.
ScrapMonster Edge: Copper Recovers 10¢ After Thursday's 19¢ Decline
Friday's copper rebound becomes more meaningful when compared with the previous four sessions.
The major clean copper grades gained a combined 6¢/lb on October 19 and 20, before declining 3¢/lb on Wednesday and another 19¢/lb on Thursday.
Friday's 10¢/lb recovery reversed part of that selloff, but did not restore prices to their October 16 closing benchmarks.
| Market Date | Clean Copper Move | Since Oct. 16 Close |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 19 | ↑4¢/lb | +4¢/lb |
| Oct. 20 | ↑2¢/lb | +6¢/lb |
| Oct. 21 | ↓3¢/lb | +3¢/lb |
| Oct. 22 | ↓19¢/lb | −16¢/lb |
| Oct. 23 | ↑10¢/lb | −6¢/lb |
Across October 22 and 23, clean copper recorded a net decline of 9¢/lb. Friday's rebound recovered slightly more than half of Thursday's loss, leaving the benchmarks 6¢/lb below their October 16 closing levels.
The recovery also spread beyond clean copper into insulated wire, radiators and selected copper-bearing grades, although several mixed-material categories remained unchanged.
Copper Scrap Prices Rebound 10¢/Lb
Copper recorded the strongest price increases among the major North American scrap categories on October 23.
Four principal clean copper grades advanced 10¢/lb, while insulated wire, radiator scrap and other copper-bearing materials posted smaller gains.
| Copper Grade | Oct. 23 Change |
|---|---|
| #1 Copper Bare Bright | ↑10¢/lb |
| #1 Copper Wire and Tubing | ↑10¢/lb |
| #2 Copper Wire and Tubing | ↑10¢/lb |
| #3 Copper-Light Copper | ↑10¢/lb |
| Copper Radiator | ↑3¢/lb |
| #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery | ↑2¢/lb |
| #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery | ↑2¢/lb |
| Harness Wire 35% Recovery | ↑2¢/lb |
| Romex Wire | ↑2¢/lb |
| Cu Yokes | ↑1¢/lb |
| Heater Cores | ↑1¢/lb |
Copper Grades That Held Steady
Not every copper-bearing category participated in Friday's rebound.
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 were unchanged.
The difference in the size of the increases is worth noting. Major clean copper grades gained 10¢/lb, while insulated wire and other recovery materials generally rose by between 1¢ and 3¢/lb.
Aluminum Scrap Prices Move Broadly Higher
Aluminum prices strengthened across most listed benchmarks, reversing the previous day's decline in several key categories.
E.C. Aluminum Wire recorded the largest aluminum gain, advancing 2¢/lb.
1100 Scrap, 3003 Scrap, 356 Aluminum Wheels, 5052 Scrap, 6061 Extrusions, 6063 Extrusions and 6063 Extrusions/Fe each increased 1¢/lb.
Chrome Wheels, Litho Sheets, MLC Clips, Old Cast, Old Sheet, Painted Siding, UBC and Zorba 90% NF also gained 1¢/lb.
Aluminum Grades That Held Steady
Seven listed aluminum categories recorded no daily change:
- Al/Cu Radiators
- Al/Cu Radiators/Fe
- Aluminum Radiators
- Aluminum Radiators/Fe
- Aluminum Transformers
- Breakage 50% Recovery
- Mixed Aluminum Turnings
Those benchmarks maintained their previous-session levels.
E.C. Aluminum Wire's 2¢/lb increase was particularly notable because it matched the grade's October 22 decline, reversing that single-session loss.
Brass and Bronze Scrap Prices Rise 2¢/Lb
Brass and bronze scrap prices recovered alongside copper, with seven major listed grades increasing 2¢/lb.
| Brass/Bronze Grade | Oct. 23 Change |
|---|---|
| 70/30 Brass Scrap | ↑2¢/lb |
| 80/20 Brass Scrap | ↑2¢/lb |
| 85/15 Brass Scrap | ↑2¢/lb |
| Brass Radiator | ↑2¢/lb |
| Red Brass | ↑2¢/lb |
| Red Borings | ↑2¢/lb |
| Yellow Brass | ↑2¢/lb |
Brass Radiator/Fe and Brass Radiator Ends were unchanged.
The 2¢/lb gains followed Thursday's 4¢/lb decline in the same seven major grades. Friday's recovery therefore reversed half of that loss, leaving those benchmarks a net 2¢/lb lower over the two sessions.
Stainless Steel Scrap Prices Hold Thursday's Gains
Stainless steel scrap prices remained unchanged across every listed North American grade.
- 201 SS: → Flat
- 301 SS: → Flat
- 304 SS Solid: → Flat
- 304 SS Turning: → Flat
- 309 SS: → Flat
- 310 SS: → Flat
- 316 SS Solid: → Flat
- 330 SS: → Flat
The unchanged session followed Thursday's widespread stainless steel gains, when listed grades advanced between 1¢ and 4¢/lb.
Friday's stability indicates that those previous-session benchmark increases were maintained rather than reversed.
Steel Scrap Prices Remain Unchanged
Steel scrap prices recorded no further movement on October 23.
- #1 Bundle: → Flat
- #1 Busheling: → Flat
- #1 HMS: → Flat
- HMS 80/20: → Flat
- Sheet Metal: → Flat
- Shredded Auto Scrap: → Flat
- Structural Steel: → Flat
The steady session followed the October 21 increase of $10–$15 per metric ton across listed North American steel scrap benchmarks.
With no further changes on Thursday or Friday, those earlier advances remained intact through the October 23 session.
ScrapMonster Market Read
October 23 brought a broad recovery in North American nonferrous scrap prices, although the strength of the rebound varied considerably between grades and metal categories.
Clean copper recorded the strongest absolute gains, recovering 10¢/lb after Thursday's 19¢/lb decline. Insulated wire, radiators and other copper-bearing materials also participated, but their advances were smaller.
Aluminum and brass/bronze moved in the same direction. E.C. Aluminum Wire recovered its previous-session loss, while major brass grades regained half of Thursday's decline.
Steel and stainless steel remained unchanged, but those flat readings should be considered alongside increases reported earlier in the week. Both categories maintained their previously higher benchmarks.
For scrap processors, dealers and industrial buyers, the key distinction is that Friday's widespread increases represented a partial nonferrous recovery rather than a complete reversal of the preceding losses.
What to Watch Next
- Copper: The major clean grades finished 9¢/lb lower across the final two sessions. The next benchmark update will show whether the recovery continues.
- Aluminum: E.C. Aluminum Wire reversed Thursday's 2¢/lb decline. Further grade-level changes will indicate whether the recovery extends beyond Friday's modest gains.
- Brass/Bronze: Major grades recovered 2¢/lb following Thursday's 4¢/lb decline, leaving part of the earlier loss unrecovered.
- Stainless Steel: Thursday's broad price gains remained intact. The next readings will establish whether those benchmarks change again.
- Steel: Ferrous scrap retained its October 21 gains of $10–$15/MT. Subsequent updates will indicate whether those levels continue to hold.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did major clean copper scrap prices rise on October 23?
#1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing and #3 Copper-Light Copper each increased 10¢/lb.
Did Friday's copper rebound reverse Thursday's losses?
No. Major clean copper grades gained 10¢/lb after falling 19¢/lb on October 22. The two-session result remained a net decline of 9¢/lb.
Which aluminum grade recorded the largest increase?
E.C. Aluminum Wire rose 2¢/lb. Most other aluminum grades that advanced gained 1¢/lb.
How did brass and bronze scrap prices perform?
Seven major brass and bronze grades gained 2¢/lb, including Red Brass, Red Borings and Yellow Brass. Brass Radiator/Fe and Brass Radiator Ends remained unchanged.
Did stainless steel and steel scrap prices change?
No. All listed stainless steel and steel scrap benchmarks were unchanged on October 23, maintaining price levels established during previous sessions.
