North American Scrap Metal Prices See Steep Declines on the Index- May 15, 2026

TORONTO (Scrap Monster): As of Friday, May 15, 2026, North American scrap metal prices recorded a notable decline on the ScrapMonster Price Index.

Only Stainless Steel and Steel scrap prices held steady over the previous day’s prices. All other scrap categories recorded decline.

• Copper: Weak trend

• Aluminum: Recorded decline

• Brass/Bronze: Widespread decline

• Stainless Steel: Held steady

• Steel: Flat trend

Copper Scrap Prices

The price of Alternator scrap recorded a decline of $0.01 per Lb 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 declined sharply by $0.29 per Lb.  

The prices of #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery and #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery were down by $0.10 per Lb on the Index. 

Copper Radiator scrap prices recorded a decline of $0.15 per Lb.

Copper Transformer prices were down slightly by $0.01 per Lb on the Index.

The prices of Cu Yokes dipped by $0.02 per Lb.

Cu/Al Radiator Ends, Cu/Al Radiators and Cu/Al Radiators/Fe prices were flat as of May 15, 2026.

Harness Wire 35% Recovery and Romex Wire prices reported a decline of $0.10 per Lb each, whereas Heater Cores prices were down by $0.06 per Lb on the Index.

The prices of Scrap Electric Motors, Starters, Sealed units, and Xmas Lights saw dips of $0.01 per Lb from the previous day’s price levels.

Aluminum Scrap Prices

1100 Scrap prices were down by $0.02 per Lb over the day.

The prices of 3003 Scrap, 356 Aluminum Wheels and 6063 Extrusions/Fe also dropped by $0.02 per Lb.

The prices of 6063 Extrusions recorded a decline of $0.02 per Lb over the day.

Also, prices of 5052 Scrap and 6061 Extrusions saw a dip of $0.02 per Lb each when compared with the prior day.

The prices of Al/Cu Radiators and Al/Cu Radiators/Fe recorded no change over the day.

Aluminum Radiators prices saw a dip of $0.01 per Lb.

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

Breakage 50% Recovery prices dropped by $0.01 per Lb on the Index as of May 15, 2026.

E.C Aluminum Wire prices were down by $.03 per Lb on the Index.

Chrome Wheels, Litho Sheets, and MLC Clips prices dipped by $0.02 per Lb when compared with the previous day’s price levels.

Mixed Aluminum Turnings prices also declined by $0.01 per Lb.

The prices of Old Cast and UBC dipped by $0.02 per Lb over the previous day.

Old Sheet, Painted Siding, and Zorba 90% NF prices also recorded decline by $0.02 per Lb 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 May 15, 2026.

Stainless Steel Scrap Prices

201 SS, 301 SS and 304 SS Solid prices were flat over the previous day.

304 SS Turning prices also remained unchanged as of May 15, 2026.

309 SS and 310 SS prices held steady from the previous day’s level.

330 SS prices reported no variation over the previous day’s prices.

Also, 316 SS Solid prices did not change on the Index.

Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices

The Brass/Bronze Scrap prices in the North American region witnessed a decline on the Index.

• 70/30 Brass Scrap: Down by $0.10 per Lb

• 80/20 Brass Scrap: Dropped by $0.10 per Lb

• 85/15 Brass Scrap: Recorded a decline of $0.10 per Lb

• Brass Radiator: Reduced by $0.10 per Lb

Brass Radiator /Fe and Brass Radiator Ends prices saw slight reduction of $0.01 per Lb each from the previous day's price levels as of May 15, 2026.

In the meantime, Red Brass, Red Borings and Yellow Brass prices dropped by $0.10 per Lb on the Index. 

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