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North American Scrap Prices: Copper and Aluminum Edge Higher; Steel, Stainless, Brass Flat on August 17, 2026
Copper and aluminum were the only North American scrap categories to post price gains on the ScrapMonster Price Index on Monday, August 17, 2026, while steel, stainless steel, and brass/bronze scrap prices held unchanged across every tracked grade.
What Readers Should Know
- Copper posted marginal increases across wire, tubing, and bare bright grades.
- Aluminum saw broad but slight upticks, led by E.C. Aluminum Wire.
- Brass/bronze, stainless steel, and steel prices were unchanged.
- Most copper-bearing and aluminum-bearing materials held steady.
- Market tone: narrow non-ferrous gains amid overall price stability.
Market Overview
Copper and aluminum were the only categories to move higher on the Index. Steel, stainless steel, and brass/bronze scrap prices remained flat across all monitored grades, reflecting a broadly stable North American scrap market session.
Copper Scrap Prices
Alternator scrap prices remained unchanged from the previous day. #1 Copper Wire and Tubing increased by $0.01 per lb, while #2 Copper Wire and Tubing also recorded a $0.01 per lb gain. #1 Copper Bare Bright edged higher by $0.01 per lb.
#1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery and #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery prices remained unchanged on the Index. #3 Copper–Light Copper prices increased by $0.01 per lb.
Copper Radiator scrap, Copper Transformer Scrap, Cu Yokes, Cu/Al Radiator Ends, Cu/Al Radiators, Cu/Al Radiators/Fe, Harness Wire 35% Recovery, Romex Wire, Heater Cores, Scrap Electric Motors, Starters, Sealed Units, and Xmas Lights all held steady at the previous day's levels.
Aluminum Scrap Prices
1100 Scrap, 3003 Scrap, 356 Aluminum Wheels, 6063 Extrusions, 6063 Extrusions/Fe, 5052 Scrap, and 6061 Extrusions inched up by $0.01 per lb compared with the prior day.
Al/Cu Radiators and Al/Cu Radiators/Fe prices remained unchanged. Aluminum Radiators and Breakage 50% Recovery prices each increased by $0.01 per lb. Aluminum Radiators/Fe and Aluminum Transformer prices remained unchanged on the Index.
E.C. Aluminum Wire prices were up $0.02 per lb on the Index — the largest single move of the day across any grade.
Chrome Wheels, Litho Sheets, MLC Clips, Mixed Aluminum Turnings, Old Cast, UBC, Old Sheet, Painted Siding, and Zorba 90% NF prices each rose $0.01 per lb from the previous day.
Also Read
Steel Scrap Prices
- #1 Bundle, #1 Busheling: Flat trend
- #1 HMS, HMS 80/20: Stable pricing
Sheet Metal, Shredded Auto Scrap, and Structural Steel also saw no change in prices on the Index.
Stainless Steel Scrap Prices
201 SS and 301 SS prices reported no change. 304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning, 309 SS, and 310 SS prices remained flat over the previous day. 330 SS and 316 SS Solid prices also remained unchanged on the Index.
Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices
The Brass/Bronze scrap market in North America remained unchanged on the Index. 70/30 Brass Scrap, 80/20 Brass Scrap, 85/15 Brass Scrap, and Brass Radiator Scrap prices held steady from the previous day.
Brass Radiator/Fe and Brass Radiator Ends prices also remained unchanged. Red Brass, Red Borings, and Yellow Brass recorded no variation on the Index.
People Also Ask
Which scrap categories moved on August 17, 2026?
Only copper and aluminum posted gains; steel, stainless steel, and brass/bronze were unchanged.
What was the largest single price move of the day?
E.C. Aluminum Wire rose $0.02 per lb, the biggest move across any grade.
Did copper bare bright prices change?
Yes. #1 Copper Bare Bright increased by $0.01 per lb.
Were stainless steel grades flat?
Yes. All tracked stainless grades, including 304 SS Solid and 316 SS Solid, were unchanged.
Which aluminum grades increased?
Multiple grades rose $0.01/lb, including 6063 Extrusions, Old Cast, UBC, and E.C. Aluminum Wire (+$0.02/lb).
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Courtesy: ScrapMonster
