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North American Scrap Metal Prices: Copper Rebounds 9¢/Lb, Stainless Falls – November 2, 2026
North American scrap prices posted mixed movements on November 2, led by a 9¢/lb rebound in three major clean copper grades. Brass/bronze also advanced, while stainless steel declined by up to 3¢/lb. Aluminum was largely unchanged and steel benchmarks held steady.
By Carolina Curiel
Published: November 3, 2026
Market data: November 2, 2026
Market at a Glance
- Copper: ↑ 9¢/lb across three clean grades; seven additional grades rose, while nine held steady.
- Aluminum: ↑ 1¢/lb for E.C. Aluminum Wire; 22 other grades unchanged.
- Brass/Bronze: ↑ 2¢/lb across seven grades; two unchanged.
- Stainless Steel: ↓ 1–3¢/lb across seven grades; 201 SS unchanged.
- Steel: → Flat across all seven reported benchmarks.
MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): North American scrap metal buying benchmarks moved in different directions on Monday, November 2, as copper and brass/bronze recovered from Friday's losses while stainless steel weakened on the ScrapMonster Price Index.
#1 Copper Bare Bright and #1 and #2 Copper Wire and Tubing each gained 9¢/lb. Seven brass/bronze grades rose 2¢/lb, while stainless steel declined across seven grades. E.C. Aluminum Wire was the only aluminum category to advance, and ferrous scrap remained unchanged.
ScrapMonster Edge: Copper Rebounds, but Friday's Losses Are Not Erased
Three major clean copper grades gained 9¢/lb on November 2, recovering part of the 14¢/lb decline recorded October 30. Across those two sessions, the same grades remained 5¢/lb lower than their October 29 closing benchmarks.
Brass followed a similar pattern, with seven grades gaining 2¢/lb after declining 3¢/lb on Friday. Stainless steel moved in the opposite direction, with losses reaching 3¢/lb for 330 SS.
Operator takeaway: Monday's buying-benchmark recovery was concentrated in copper and brass, rather than extending across the scrap market. For yards and processors, the latest gains should be evaluated against the previous decline, while stainless steel requires separate attention.
Copper Scrap Prices
Copper scrap prices strengthened across ten explicitly reported grades, led by 9¢/lb gains in three major clean copper benchmarks:
- #1 Copper Bare Bright
- #1 Copper Wire and Tubing
- #2 Copper Wire and Tubing
Copper Radiator Scrap increased 3¢/lb.
Five grades each gained 2¢/lb: #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery, #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery, Harness Wire 35% Recovery, Heater Cores and Romex Wire.
Cu Yokes advanced 1¢/lb.
Unchanged: Alternator Scrap, Copper Transformer Scrap, Cu/Al Radiator Ends, Cu/Al Radiators, Cu/Al Radiators/Fe, Scrap Electric Motors, Starters, Sealed Units and Xmas Lights.
Aluminum Scrap Prices
Aluminum buying benchmarks were largely unchanged, with E.C. Aluminum Wire the only reported gainer, rising 1¢/lb. The remaining 22 grades held steady.
Unchanged wrought, extrusion and sheet grades: 1100 Scrap, 3003 Scrap, 5052 Scrap, 6061 Extrusions, 6063 Extrusions, 6063 Extrusions/Fe, Litho Sheets, MLC Clips, Old Sheet and Painted Siding.
Unchanged cast, wheel and mixed grades: 356 Aluminum Wheels, Chrome Wheels, Mixed Aluminum Turnings, Old Cast, UBC and Zorba 90% NF.
Unchanged radiator and recovery grades: Al/Cu Radiators, Al/Cu Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Radiators, Aluminum Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Transformers and Breakage 50% Recovery.
Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices
Brass and bronze scrap prices advanced across seven grades, each gaining 2¢/lb.
Increasing grades: 70/30 Brass Scrap, 80/20 Brass Scrap, 85/15 Brass Scrap, Brass Radiator Scrap, Red Brass, Red Borings and Yellow Brass.
Unchanged: Brass Radiator/Fe and Brass Radiator Ends.
Stainless Steel Scrap Prices
Stainless steel weakened across seven of the eight reported grades, contrasting with the gains recorded in copper and brass/bronze.
Five grades declined 1¢/lb each: 301 SS, 304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning, 309 SS and 316 SS Solid.
310 SS dropped 2¢/lb, while 330 SS recorded the largest stainless steel decline at 3¢/lb.
Unchanged: 201 SS.
Steel Scrap Prices
North American ferrous scrap benchmarks remained unchanged across all seven reported categories.
Unchanged: #1 Bundle, #1 Busheling, #1 HMS, HMS 80/20, Sheet Metal, Shredded Auto Scrap and Structural Steel.
None of the listed steel scrap grades registered a day-over-day buying-benchmark adjustment during the session.
Pricing scope: This report covers day-over-day changes in ScrapMonster North American scrap buying benchmarks. Actual yard quotations vary by grade, quality, recovery, quantity, location and buyer. Current proprietary Premium buying-price levels are not disclosed.
