North American Scrap Metal Prices Jump on the Index, Driven by Copper and Brass- Dec 17, 2025
Daily Scrap Metal Price Report | 2025-12-18 12:47:18
The prices of Old Cast and UBC witnessed no change over the previous day.
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TORONTO (Scrap Monster): As of Wednesday, December 17, 2025, North American Copper and Brass/Bronze scrap prices recorded modest jump on the ScrapMonster Price Index.
- Copper: Mostly up
- Aluminum: Stable prices
- Brass/Bronze: Widespread increase
- Stainless Steel: Saw no variation
- Steel: Flat trend
Copper Scrap Prices
The price of Alternator scrap recorded no variation over the previous day.
The price of #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, #1 Copper Bare Bright, and #3 Copper- Light Copper increased by $0.07 per Lb.
The prices of #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery and #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery were up by $0.02 per Lb on the Index.
Copper Radiator scrap prices recorded a jump of $0.03 per Lb.
Copper Transformer scrap prices held steady on the Index.
Cu Yokes prices edged higher by $0.01 per Lb.
Cu/Al Radiator Ends, Cu/Al Radiators and Cu/Al Radiators/Fe prices were unchanged as of December 17, 2025.
Harness Wire 35% Recovery, Heater Cores and Romex Wire prices reported a rise of $0.02 per Lb on the Index.
The prices of Scrap Electric Motors, Starters, Sealed units, and Xmas Lights were unmoved from the previous day’s price levels.
Aluminum Scrap Prices
1100 Scrap prices held steady over the day.
The prices of 3003 Scrap, 356 Aluminum Wheels and 6063 Extrusions/Fe also were flat.
The prices of 6063 Extrusions recorded no variation over the day.
Also, prices of 5052 Scrap and 6061 Extrusions held steady when compared with the prior day.
The prices of Al/Cu Radiators and Al/Cu Radiators/Fe recorded no variation over the day.
Aluminum Radiators and Aluminum Radiators/Fe prices held steady.
Aluminum Transformers and Breakage 50% Recovery prices remained unchanged as of December 17, 2025.
E.C Aluminum Wire prices were up by $0.01 per Lb on the Index.
Chrome Wheels, Litho Sheets, and MLC Clips remained steady when compared with the previous day’s price levels.
Mixed Aluminum Turnings prices also were flat on the Index.
The prices of Old Cast and UBC witnessed no change over the previous day.
Old Sheet, Painted Siding, and Zorba 90% NF prices also held steady on the Index.
Steel Scrap Prices
- #1 Bundle: No change
- #1 Busheling: Flat trend
- #1 HMS: Held steady
- HMS 80/20: Stable pricing
Sheet Metal, Shredded Auto Scrap, and Structural Steel also saw no change in prices as of December 17, 2025.
Stainless Steel Scrap Prices
201 SS and 301 SS prices reported no change.
304 SS Solid prices also remained flat over the previous day.
304 SS Turning witnessed no change in prices as of December 17, 2025.
309 SS and 310 SS prices saw no change in price from the previous day’s level.
330 SS prices were flat.
Also, 316 SS Solid prices remained unchanged on the Index.
Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices
The Brass/Bronze Scrap prices in the North American region witnessed a jump on the Index.
- 70/30 Brass Scrap: Up by $0.02 per Lb
- 80/20 Brass Scrap: Increased by $0.02 per Lb
- 85/15 Brass Scrap: Saw a jump of $0.02 per Lb
- Brass Radiator: Edged higher by $0.02 per Lb
Brass Radiator /Fe and Brass Radiator Ends prices maintained the previous day's price levels as of December 16, 2025.
In the meantime, Red Brass, Red Borings and Yellow Brass prices were up by $0.02 per Lb on the Index.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Which scrap metals recorded price increases on December 17, 2025?
Copper and Brass/Bronze scrap prices posted modest gains, with several copper wire grades and most brass categories moving higher on the ScrapMonster Index.
- How did aluminum, steel, and stainless steel scrap prices perform on Dec 17, 2025?
Aluminum, steel, and stainless steel scrap prices were largely unchanged, showing a flat trend across most grades.
- What does the overall pricing trend indicate?
The market showed selective strength in nonferrous scrap, particularly copper and brass, while the broader scrap market remained stable.
- What specific copper grades saw the largest price increases on December 17, 2025?
#1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, #1 Copper Bare Bright, and #3 Copper- Light Copper recorded the highest gains, increasing by $0.07 per Lb on the ScrapMonster Index. These copper wire grades led the nonferrous sector with the most significant price movement.
Additionally, insulated copper wire grades and copper radiator scrap also posted gains, though at lower increments ranging from $0.02 to $0.03 per Lb.
- Why did brass and bronze scrap prices increase while steel prices remained flat?
The brass and bronze sector showed selective strength with widespread increases of $0.02 per Lb across multiple grades including 70/30, 80/20, and 85/15 brass scrap, while steel scrap maintained stable pricing due to different market fundamentals. Nonferrous metals like brass and bronze typically respond to different supply-demand dynamics than ferrous metals.
The ScrapMonster Index reflected this selective strength pattern, with nonferrous scrap outperforming ferrous materials on December 17, 2025.
- Which aluminum scrap grades are currently showing price stability?
Most aluminum scrap grades remained unchanged on December 17, 2025, including 1100 Scrap, 3003 Scrap, 356 Aluminum Wheels, 6063 Extrusions, and 6061 Extrusions. The only exception was E.C. Aluminum Wire, which gained $0.01 per Lb on the Index.
Popular grades like Old Cast and UBC (used beverage cans) also held steady, indicating flat market conditions for aluminum scrap.
- How often does the ScrapMonster Price Index update scrap metal prices?
The ScrapMonster Price Index provides daily updates on North American scrap metal prices, tracking real-time market movements across copper, aluminum, steel, stainless steel, and brass/bronze categories. These daily reports capture day-to-day price changes down to the penny per pound.
Subscribers can access live pricing data and track trends across multiple scrap grades to make informed buying and selling decisions.
- What is the significance of a flat trend in steel scrap pricing?
A flat trend means steel scrap prices showed no change from the previous day, indicating market stability in the ferrous sector. On December 17, 2025, key grades like #1 Bundle, #1 Busheling, #1 HMS, and HMS 80/20 all held steady with no price movement.
This stable pricing pattern suggests balanced supply and demand conditions, with neither upward nor downward pressure affecting steel scrap values.
- Which scrap metals are best positioned for price gains in the current market?
Based on the December 17, 2025 report, copper and brass/bronze scrap show the strongest momentum, with multiple copper wire grades gaining $0.07 per Lb and brass/bronze categories posting widespread increases. The nonferrous sector demonstrates selective strength while ferrous metals remain stable.
Traders focusing on copper wire, bare bright copper, and brass radiator grades may find better opportunities compared to steel and aluminum segments.
- What does the term What does the term modest jump mean in scrap metal pricing terminology?
A "modest jump" refers to small but positive price increases typically ranging from $0.01 to $0.07 per Lb, as seen in the copper and brass/bronze markets on December 17, 2025. This terminology indicates upward movement without dramatic volatility, showing measured market strength rather than sharp spikes.
The term differentiates from major price surges or significant declines, helping market participants gauge the intensity of price movements.
