By North American Copper Scrap Gains 5¢ as Stainless Steel Rises
North American scrap buying benchmarks were mostly unchanged on September 15, but four major clean copper grades gained $0.05 per lb and stainless steel advanced across every listed grade. Aluminum, steel and brass/bronze remained flat.
By Carolina Curiel
Published September 16, 2026
Market data: September 15, 2026
Key Points
- #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, #1 Copper Bare Bright and #3 Copper-Light Copper each gained $0.05 per lb.
- Copper Radiator Scrap increased by $0.01 per lb.
- 201 SS, 301 SS, 304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning, 309 SS and 316 SS Solid each rose $0.01 per lb.
- 310 SS gained $0.02 per lb, while 330 SS posted the largest stainless move at $0.03 per lb.
- All listed aluminum, steel and brass/bronze grades remained unchanged.
MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): North American scrap metal prices were mostly unchanged on the ScrapMonster Price Index on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, with selective gains in copper and broader increases across stainless steel.
Four major clean copper grades increased by $0.05 per lb, while Copper Radiator Scrap gained $0.01 per lb. Stainless steel also moved higher across all listed grades, led by 330 SS with a $0.03-per-lb increase.
Aluminum, steel and brass/bronze scrap prices remained unchanged.
Copper Scrap Prices
Copper recorded modest gains across several major clean grades.
#1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, #1 Copper Bare Bright and #3 Copper-Light Copper each rose by $0.05 per lb.
Copper Radiator Scrap increased by $0.01 per lb.
Alternator Scrap, #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery and #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery were unchanged.
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 also held their previous-day levels.
Aluminum Scrap Prices
Aluminum scrap prices remained unchanged across all listed grades.
1100 Scrap, 3003 Scrap, 356 Aluminum Wheels, 6063 Extrusions/Fe, 6063 Extrusions, 5052 Scrap and 6061 Extrusions all maintained their previous-day levels.
Al/Cu Radiators, Al/Cu Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Radiators, Aluminum Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Transformers and Breakage 50% Recovery were also flat.
E.C. Aluminum Wire, Chrome Wheels, Litho Sheets, MLC Clips, Mixed Aluminum Turnings, Old Cast, UBC, Old Sheet, Painted Siding and Zorba 90% NF recorded no day-over-day variation.
Steel Scrap Prices
Steel scrap prices remained unchanged across all listed benchmark grades.
#1 Bundle, #1 Busheling and #1 HMS were flat.
HMS 80/20, Sheet Metal, Shredded Auto Scrap and Structural Steel also recorded no day-over-day movement.
Stainless Steel Scrap Prices
Stainless steel posted broad gains across every listed grade.
201 SS, 301 SS, 304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning, 309 SS and 316 SS Solid each increased by $0.01 per lb.
310 SS rose $0.02 per lb.
330 SS recorded the largest stainless steel increase, gaining $0.03 per lb.
Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices
Brass and bronze scrap prices were unchanged across the listed categories.
70/30 Brass, 80/20 Brass, 85/15 Brass and Brass Radiator Scrap maintained their previous-day levels.
Brass Radiator/Fe and Brass Radiator Ends were also unchanged.
Red Brass, Red Borings and Yellow Brass held steady on the Index.
