North American Scrap Prices Advance Across Most Key Grades on the Index- August 28, 2026

The prices of #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery and #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery were up by $0.01 per Lb each on the Index.

Summary

Copper prices advance broadly: Several major copper scrap grades, including #1 Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing and #3 Light Copper, increased by $0.06 per lb. Insulated copper wire, copper radiators and other grades also recorded smaller gains.
Aluminum and brass/bronze prices move higher: Aluminum scrap prices posted widespread increases of $0.01 per lb across numerous grades, including 6063 Extrusions, E.C. Aluminum Wire, UBC, Old Cast and Zorba 90% NF. Brass and bronze grades also gained $0.01 per lb across several categories.
Steel and stainless steel markets remain stable: No changes were recorded across the listed steel scrap grades, including #1 HMS, #1 Busheling and Shredded Auto Scrap. Stainless steel scrap prices were also unchanged across all tracked grades, signaling a broadly steady market.

North American Scrap Prices Rise as Copper Gains 6 Cents, Aluminum and Brass Advance

Name: North American Scrap Prices Advance Across Most Key Grades on the Index- August 28, 2026
Uploaded: 2026-08-31T17:25:42+04:00
Duration: 3 min 22 s
Description: The prices of #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery and #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery were up by $0.01 per Lb each on the Index.

Copper led broad gains on the ScrapMonster Price Index for August 28, with major clean copper grades rising $0.06 per lb. Aluminum and brass/bronze also moved higher, while steel and stainless steel remained unchanged.

By Carolina Curiel
Published August 31, 2026

Key Points

#1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, #1 Copper Bare Bright and #3 Copper-Light Copper each rose $0.06 per lb.
Many aluminum grades, including 6063 Extrusions, E.C. Aluminum Wire, UBC and Old Cast, gained $0.01 per lb.
Red Brass, Yellow Brass and several other brass/bronze grades increased $0.01 per lb.
All listed steel and stainless steel scrap grades remained unchanged.

MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): As of Friday, August 28, 2026, North American scrap metal prices, including copper, aluminum and brass/bronze, recorded broad gains on the ScrapMonster Price Index. Stainless steel and steel scrap prices, however, held steady on the Index.

Copper Scrap Prices

Alternator scrap recorded no variation from the previous day.

#1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, #1 Copper Bare Bright and #3 Copper-Light Copper each increased $0.06 per lb.

#1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery and #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery each rose $0.01 per lb on the Index.

Copper Radiator scrap increased $0.02 per lb.

Copper Transformer Scrap, Cu Yokes, Cu/Al Radiator Ends, Cu/Al Radiators and Cu/Al Radiators/Fe remained unchanged on the Index.

Harness Wire 35% Recovery and Romex Wire each gained $0.01 per lb.

Heater Cores, Scrap Electric Motors, Starters, Sealed Units and Xmas Lights recorded no variation on the Index.

Aluminum Scrap Prices

1100 Scrap, 3003 Scrap, 356 Aluminum Wheels, 6063 Extrusions/Fe, 6061 Extrusions, 5052 Scrap and 6063 Extrusions each edged higher by $0.01 per lb.

Al/Cu Radiators, Al/Cu Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Radiators, Aluminum Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Transformers and Breakage 50% Recovery recorded no variation on the Index.

E.C. Aluminum Wire, Chrome Wheels, Litho Sheets, MLC Clips, Mixed Aluminum Turnings, Old Cast, UBC, Old Sheet, Painted Siding and Zorba 90% NF each rose $0.01 per lb from the previous day's price levels.

Steel Scrap Prices

#1 Bundle, #1 Busheling and #1 HMS remained unchanged.

HMS 80/20, Sheet Metal, Shredded Auto Scrap and Structural Steel also held steady on the Index.

Stainless Steel Scrap Prices

201 SS and 301 SS prices were unchanged.

304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning and 309 SS remained flat compared with the previous day's prices.

310 SS, 330 SS and 316 SS Solid also recorded no day-over-day price movement.

Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices

Brass and bronze scrap prices in the North American region moved higher on the Index.

70/30 Brass Scrap, 80/20 Brass Scrap, 85/15 Brass Scrap and Brass Radiator each gained $0.01 per lb.

Brass Radiator/Fe and Brass Radiator Ends remained unchanged from the previous day's price levels.

Red Brass, Red Borings and Yellow Brass each increased $0.01 per lb on the Index.

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Which North American scrap metal category showed the strongest price increase on August 28, 2026?

Copper

Aluminum

Brass/Bronze

Frequently Asked Questions

Which scrap metal category recorded the strongest gains in North America on August 28, 2026?

Copper showed the strongest movement. #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, #1 Copper Bare Bright and #3 Copper-Light Copper each increased by $0.06 per lb. Other copper grades posted smaller gains, creating an across-the-board upward trend.

How did aluminum scrap prices perform?

Aluminum scrap prices mostly increased by $0.01 per lb. Gains were recorded in several grades, including 6063 Extrusions, E.C. Aluminum Wire, Old Cast, UBC, Old Sheet and Zorba 90% NF. Some radiator and transformer categories, however, remained unchanged.

What was the trend in North American brass and bronze scrap prices?

Brass and bronze scrap prices moved higher across a broad range of grades. 70/30, 80/20 and 85/15 Brass Scrap, Brass Radiator, Red Brass, Red Borings and Yellow Brass each gained $0.01 per lb. Brass Radiator/Fe and Brass Radiator Ends were stable.