North American Scrap Metal Prices Rise Broadly on the Index- May 21, 2026

TORONTO (Scrap Monster): As of Thursday, May 21, 2026, North American scrap metal prices, including Copper, Aluminum and Brass/Bronze, recorded broad gains on the ScrapMonster Price Index. On the contrary, Stainless Steel and Steel scrap prices held steady on the Index.

• Copper: Across-the-board jump

• Aluminum: Mostly up

• Brass/Bronze: Widespread increase

• Stainless Steel: Flat trend

• Steel: Witnessed no change

Copper Scrap Prices

The price of Alternator scrap recorded no change 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 $0.13 per Lb.  

The prices of #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery and #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery were up by $0.03 per Lb each on the Index. 

Copper Radiator scrap prices recorded a jump of $0.05 per Lb.

Copper Transformer scrap prices were flat 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 held steady as of May 21, 2026.

Harness Wire 35% Recovery, Heater Cores, and Romex Wire prices witnessed a jump of $0.03 per Lb on the Index.

The prices of Scrap Electric Motors, Starters, Xmas Lights and Sealed units saw no variation from the previous day’s price levels.

Aluminum Scrap Prices

1100 Scrap prices were up by $0.01 per Lb over the previous day.

The prices of 3003 Scrap, 356 Aluminum Wheels and 6063 Extrusions/Fe also increased by $0.01 per Lb on the Index.

The prices of 6061 Extrusions saw a jump of $0.01 per Lb over the previous day.

Also, prices of 5052 Scrap and 6063 Extrusions recorded increases by $0.01 per Lb when compared with the prior day’s price.

The prices of Al/Cu Radiators and Al/Cu Radiators/Fe saw no variation on the Index.

Aluminum Radiators prices were flat on a daily basis.

Aluminum Radiators/Fe and Aluminum Transformers prices were unchanged on the Index.

Breakage 50% Recovery prices remained flat as of May 21, 2026.

E.C Aluminum Wire prices saw a jump of $0.01 per Lb on the Index.

Chrome Wheels, Litho Sheets, and MLC Clips reported increases by $0.01 per Lb when compared with the previous day’s price levels.

Mixed Aluminum Turnings prices edged higher by $0.01 per Lb on the Index.

The prices of Old Cast and UBC witnessed a jump of $0.01 per Lb each over the previous day.

Old Sheet, Painted Siding, and Zorba 90% NF prices also were up by $0.01 per Lb on the Index.

Steel Scrap Prices

• #1 Bundle: No change

• #1 Busheling: Held steady

• #1 HMS: Flat trend

• HMS 80/20: Remained unchanged

 Sheet Metal prices were flat on the Index.

Shredded Auto Scrap and Structural Steel prices recorded no variation as of May 21, 2026.

Stainless Steel Scrap Prices

201 SS and 301 SS prices were unchanged on the Index.

304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning and 309 SS prices were flat as of May 21, 2026.

310 SS prices saw no variation from the previous day’s level.

330 SS prices held steady on the Index.

Also, 316 SS Solid prices recorded no fluctuation from the previous day’s price level.

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 $0.03 per Lb

• 80/20 Brass Scrap: Increased by $0.03 per Lb

• 85/15 Brass Scrap: Saw a jump of $0.03 per Lb

• Brass Radiator: Edged higher by $0.03 per Lb

Brass Radiator /Fe and Brass Radiator Ends prices saw no change from the previous day's price levels as of Thursday, May 21, 2026.

In the meantime, Red Brass, Red Borings and Yellow Brass prices were up by $0.03 per Lb on the Index. 

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