By 
North American Scrap Prices Rise as Copper and Stainless Steel Advance
Copper scrap gained as much as $0.04 per lb on the ScrapMonster Price Index for August 31, while stainless steel rose across every listed grade, led by a $0.05 increase in 330 SS. Steel and brass/bronze remained unchanged.
By Carolina Curiel
Published September 1, 2026
Key Points
- #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, #1 Copper Bare Bright and #3 Copper-Light each increased $0.04 per lb.
- E.C. Aluminum Wire gained $0.01 per lb, while all other listed aluminum grades remained unchanged.
- Stainless steel advanced across all listed grades, with gains ranging from $0.02 to $0.05 per lb.
- 330 SS posted the largest stainless steel increase at $0.05 per lb.
- Steel and brass/bronze scrap prices remained unchanged on the Index.
MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): North American scrap metal prices remained mostly unchanged on the ScrapMonster Price Index as of Monday, August 31, 2026. Copper and stainless steel scrap prices recorded slight increases, while E.C. Aluminum Wire also moved higher from the previous day.
Copper Scrap Prices
Alternator scrap prices held steady compared with the previous day.
#1 Copper Wire and Tubing increased $0.01 per lb, while #2 Copper Wire and Tubing gained $0.04 per lb. #1 Copper Bare Bright also rose $0.04 per lb.
#1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery and #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery each increased $0.01 per lb on the Index, while #3 Copper-Light gained $0.04 per lb.
Copper Radiator scrap edged higher by $0.01 per lb, while Copper Transformer scrap remained unchanged day over day.
Cu Yokes, Cu/Al Radiator Ends, Cu/Al Radiators and Cu/Al Radiators/Fe were stable on the Index.
Harness Wire 35% Recovery and Romex Wire each increased $0.01 per lb from the previous day.
Heater Cores, Scrap Electric Motors, Starters, Sealed Units and Xmas Lights remained unchanged.
Aluminum Scrap Prices
1100 Scrap and 3003 Scrap remained flat. Prices for 356 Aluminum Wheels and 6063 Extrusions/Fe were also unchanged.
6063 Extrusions recorded no day-over-day movement. Similarly, 5052 Scrap and 6061 Extrusions remained flat.
Al/Cu Radiators and Al/Cu Radiators/Fe were unchanged, while Aluminum Radiators and Aluminum Radiators/Fe held steady. Aluminum Transformers and Breakage 50% Recovery also recorded no change.
E.C. Aluminum Wire was the exception, increasing $0.01 per lb on the Index.
Chrome Wheels, Litho Sheets and MLC Clips remained at the previous day's levels.
Mixed Aluminum Turnings were unchanged, while Old Cast and UBC also recorded no movement.
Old Sheet, Painted Siding and Zorba 90% NF remained stable.
Steel Scrap Prices
#1 Bundle prices recorded no change.
#1 Busheling remained flat, while #1 HMS also held steady.
HMS 80/20 maintained stable pricing.
Sheet Metal, Shredded Auto Scrap and Structural Steel also recorded no change on the Index.
Stainless Steel Scrap Prices
201 SS increased $0.02 per lb from the previous day's level.
301 SS, 304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning, 309 SS and 316 SS Solid each increased $0.03 per lb on the Index.
310 SS gained $0.04 per lb.
330 SS recorded the largest stainless steel move, increasing $0.05 per lb.
Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices
Brass and bronze scrap prices across North America remained unchanged on the Index.
70/30 Brass Scrap, 80/20 Brass Scrap, 85/15 Brass Scrap and Brass Radiator scrap were flat.
Brass Radiator/Fe and Brass Radiator Ends continued to hold at the previous day's levels.
Red Brass, Red Borings and Yellow Brass also recorded no price movement.
