North American Copper and Brass Scrap Prices Slide on the Index- May 19, 2026

TORONTO (Scrap Monster): The North American scrap metal prices mostly remained unchanged on the ScrapMonster Price Index as of Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Copper and brass scrap prices recorded slight decline. In the meantime, E.C. Aluminum Wire prices edged higher.

• Copper: Marginal decline

• Aluminum: Only E.C. Aluminum Wire saw change in price

• Brass/Bronze: Edged lowera 

• Stainless Steel: Held steady

• Steel: Flat trend

Copper Scrap Prices

Alternator scrap prices held steady compared to the previous day. #1 Copper Wire and Tubing prices fell by $0.09 per lb, with #2 Copper Wire and Tubing also dropping by $0.09 per lb. #1 Copper Bare Bright prices saw a dip of $0.09 per lb.

Prices for #1 Insulated Copper Wire (85% Recovery) and #2 Insulated Copper Wire (50% Recovery) registered declines by $0.02 per Lb each on the Index, while #3 Copper-Light posted a larger gain of $0.09 per lb.

Copper Radiator scrap prices were down by $0.03 per Lb, while Copper Transformer scrap remained flat day over day. Cu Yokes also held steady.

Cu/Al Radiator Ends, Cu/Al Radiators, and Cu/Al Radiators/Fe prices were stable as of May 19, 2026.

Harness Wire (35% Recovery) and Romex Wire prices dropped by $0.02 per Lb each on the Index.

Heater Cores recorded a decline of $0.01 per Lb on the day.

In the meantime, prices for Scrap Electric Motors, Starters, Sealed Units, and Xmas Lights remained unchanged from the previous day.

Aluminum Scrap Prices

1100 scrap prices remained flat on the day, with 3003 scrap also holding steady on the Index. Prices for 356 Aluminum Wheels and 6063 Extrusions/Fe were unchanged.

6063 Extrusions recorded no movement over the day. Similarly, 5052 scrap and 6061 Extrusions remained flat compared to the previous day.

Al/Cu Radiators and Al/Cu Radiators/Fe prices showed no change, while Aluminum Radiators and Aluminum Radiators/Fe held steady. Aluminum Transformers and Breakage (50% Recovery) prices were also unchanged as of May 19, 2026.

E.C Aluminum Wire was the only category to report variation in prices. The prices of the commodity edged higher by $0.01 per Lb on the Index.

Chrome Wheels, Litho Sheets, and MLC Clips continued to trade at the previous day’s levels, with no variation observed.

Mixed Aluminum Turnings prices were unchanged, and both Old Cast and UBC recorded no movement.

Old Sheet, Painted Siding, and Zorba 90% NF prices also remained stable over the day.

Steel Scrap Prices

• #1 Bundle prices recorded no change.

• #1 Busheling followed a flat trend over the day.

• #1 HMS prices held steady.

• HMS 80/20 also maintained stable pricing.

Sheet Metal, Shredded Auto Scrap, and Structural Steel also saw no change in prices as of May 19, 2026.

Stainless Steel Scrap Prices

201 SS and 301 SS prices were unchanged on the Index.

304 SS Solid prices also were flat over the previous day.

304 SS Turning witnessed no variation as of May 19, 2026.

309 SS and 310 SS prices were unchanged from the previous day’s level.

330 SS prices recorded no fluctuation on the Index.

Also, 316 SS Solid prices saw no change on the Index.

Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices

Brass and bronze scrap prices across North America reported decline on the Index.

Prices for 70/30 Brass Scrap, 80/20 Brass Scrap, 85/15 Brass Scrap, and Brass Radiator scrap were down by $0.02 per Lb as of Tuesday May 19, 2026.

Brass Radiator/Fe and Brass Radiator Ends continued to hold steady at the previous day’s levels.

Red Brass, Red Borings, and Yellow Brass prices dropped by $0.02 per Lb on the Index.

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