North American Copper Scrap Prices Edge Higher, Aluminum Wire Slips on the Index- August 19, 2026
Daily Scrap Metal Price Report | 2026-08-20 06:14:48
Copper scrap prices edged higher across a few categories, while E.C. Aluminum Wire prices posted a slight decline. All other listed scrap grades remained flat on the Index.
By MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): North American scrap metal prices remained mostly unchanged on the ScrapMonster Price Index as of Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Copper scrap prices edged higher across a few categories, while E.C. Aluminum Wire prices posted a slight decline. All other listed scrap grades remained flat on the Index.
Copper: Marginal increase
Aluminum: Only E.C. Aluminum Wire dropped
Brass/Bronze: Held steady
Stainless Steel: Saw no variation
Steel: Flat trend
Copper Scrap Prices
The price of Alternator scrap remained flat over the previous day. The prices of #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, and #1 Copper Bare Bright edged higher by $ 0.01 per Lb on the Index.
#1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery and #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery were flat over the previous day. #3 Copper-Light copper prices recorded a slight jump of $0.01 per Lb.
The prices of 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 witnessed no change over the day.
Aluminum Scrap Prices
1100 Scrap, 3003 Scrap, 356 Aluminum Wheels, 6063 Extrusions/Fe, 6063 Extrusions, 5052 Scrap and 6061 Extrusions prices remained flat when compared with the prior day.
The prices of Al/Cu Radiators, Al/Cu Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Radiators, Aluminum Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Transformers and Breakage 50% Recovery prices remained unchanged from the previous day.
E.C Aluminum Wire prices saw a dip of $0.01 per Lb on the Index.
Chrome Wheels, Litho Sheets, MLC Clips, Mixed Aluminum Turnings, Old Cast, UBC, Old Sheet, Painted Siding, and Zorba 90% NF prices were also unchanged.
Steel Scrap Prices
#1 Bundle: No change
#1 Busheling: Flat trend
#1 HMS: Held steady
HMS 80/20: Stable pricing
Also, Sheet Metal, Shredded Auto Scrap, and Structural Steel saw no change in prices.
Stainless Steel Scrap Prices
201 SS, 301 SS, and 304 SS Solid prices reported no change.
Additionally, 304 SS Turning, 309 SS, 310 SS, 330, and 316 SS Solid prices remained unchanged on the Index.
Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices
The Brass/Bronze Scrap prices in the North American region witnessed no change on the Index.
70/30 Brass Scrap, 80/20 Brass Scrap, 85/15 Brass Scrap, and Brass Radiator scrap prices were flat over the previous day.
Also, Brass Radiator /Fe, Brass Radiator Ends, Red Brass, Red Borings, and Yellow Brass prices held steady from the previous day's price levels.
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Which North American scrap metal category showed the strongest price movement on August 19, 2026?
Frequently Asked Questions
- How did North American scrap metal prices perform on August 19, 2026?
Prices were mostly unchanged, with modest gains in several copper grades and a small decline in E.C. Aluminum Wire.
- Which copper scrap grades increased in price?
#1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, and #3 Copper-Light Copper each rose by $0.01 per lb.
- Which aluminum scrap grade recorded a decline?
E.C. Aluminum Wire was the only listed aluminum category to decline, falling by $0.01 per lb.
