North American Scrap Update: Copper & Brass Rise, Stainless Drops on the Index- October 27, 2026

North American scrap metal prices rose broadly on October 27, 2026, led by an 11¢/lb jump in four major clean copper grades. Brass and bronze gained 3¢/lb, while aluminum increased across 18 listed grades. Stainless steel declined, led by a 3¢/lb drop in 330 SS, and steel remained unchanged. Clean copper has now recovered 26¢/lb over three sessions.

Summary

Copper Scrap Prices Surge
Copper led the gains on the ScrapMonster Price Index on October 27, 2026. Major grades, including #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, #1 Copper Bare Bright and #3 Copper-Light Copper, each climbed $0.11 per lb, accelerating from the previous session's $0.05-per-lb increases.
Aluminum and Brass/Bronze Prices Strengthen
Aluminum scrap prices recorded widespread gains of $0.01–$0.02 per lb across several grades, while most major brass and bronze categories rose by $0.03 per lb. However, selected aluminum and brass grades remained unchanged from the previous day.
Stainless Steel Declines as Steel Prices Remain Stable
Stainless steel scrap prices weakened across all listed grades except 201 SS. The steepest decline was recorded by 330 SS, which fell $0.03 per lb. In contrast, all tracked steel scrap grades remained unchanged on the Index.

North American Scrap Metal Prices: Copper Jumps 11¢/Lb, Stainless Falls – October 27, 2026

North American scrap metal prices advanced broadly on October 27, 2026, led by an 11¢/lb increase in major clean copper grades. Brass and bronze gained 3¢/lb, while aluminum rose across most listed categories. Stainless steel declined and ferrous scrap prices remained unchanged.

By Carolina Curiel
Report date: October 28, 2026
Market data: October 27, 2026

Market at a Glance

Copper: Four major clean grades ↑11¢/lb; gains extended to 11 other grades.
Aluminum: 18 listed grades ↑1–2¢/lb.
Brass/Bronze: Seven major grades ↑3¢/lb.
Stainless Steel: Seven grades declined, led by 330 SS ↓3¢/lb.
Steel: → Flat across all seven reported benchmarks.

MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): North American scrap metal buying benchmarks recorded widespread gains on Tuesday, October 27, with copper leading the advance on the ScrapMonster Price Index.

#1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing and #3 Copper-Light Copper each surged 11¢/lb, more than double Monday's 5¢/lb increase.

Brass and bronze followed with 3¢/lb gains across seven major grades, while aluminum strengthened more modestly. Stainless steel moved lower after holding steady the previous session, and steel prices remained unchanged.

Pricing note: Changes reflect ScrapMonster benchmark buying prices. Actual yard quotations may vary by grade, material quality, location, volume and buyer.

Exchange Market Context: December COMEX copper closed October 27 at $6.6525/lb, up 11.05¢/lb from the previous session. LME three-month copper gained $103/MT to $14,435/MT, while aluminum advanced $37/MT to $3,064/MT. The moves were directionally consistent with the increases recorded in North American copper and aluminum scrap benchmarks.

ScrapMonster Edge: Copper Erases Its 19¢ Decline and Moves Higher

Tuesday's 11¢/lb advance completes a sharp three-session recovery in North America's four major clean copper benchmarks.

After falling 19¢/lb on October 22, those grades gained 10¢ on Friday, 5¢ on Monday and another 11¢ on Tuesday.

That represents a combined 26¢/lb rebound, putting the benchmarks 7¢/lb above their October 21 closing levels.

The recovery also extended into insulated wire, radiators, motors and other copper-bearing grades, indicating broader participation than in the previous session.

Market takeaway: Copper has more than recovered last Thursday's loss, while brass and aluminum are also strengthening. Stainless steel is moving in the opposite direction, and ferrous benchmarks remain stable.

Copper Scrap Prices Surge 11¢/Lb

Copper recorded the session's largest increases, led by four clean grades advancing 11¢/lb:

#1 Copper Bare Bright
#1 Copper Wire and Tubing
#2 Copper Wire and Tubing
#3 Copper-Light Copper

Copper Radiator increased 4¢/lb, while #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery, #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery, Harness Wire 35% Recovery and Romex Wire each gained 3¢/lb.

Heater Cores rose 2¢/lb. Alternator Scrap, Cu Yokes, Scrap Electric Motors, Starters and Sealed Units each added 1¢/lb.

Unchanged: Copper Transformer Scrap, Xmas Lights, Cu/Al Radiator Ends, Cu/Al Radiators and Cu/Al Radiators/Fe.

Aluminum Scrap Prices Rise Across 18 Grades

Aluminum posted widespread increases, with E.C. Aluminum Wire leading the category at ↑2¢/lb.

The following grades each gained 1¢/lb:

1100 Scrap, 3003 Scrap and 5052 Scrap
356 Aluminum Wheels, 6061 Extrusions, 6063 Extrusions and 6063 Extrusions/Fe
Breakage 50% Recovery, Chrome Wheels, Litho Sheets and MLC Clips
Mixed Aluminum Turnings, Old Cast, UBC and Old Sheet
Painted Siding and Zorba 90% NF

Unchanged: Al/Cu Radiators, Al/Cu Radiators/Fe, Aluminum Radiators, Aluminum Radiators/Fe and Aluminum Transformers.

Brass and Bronze Scrap Prices Gain 3¢/Lb

Brass and bronze benchmarks strengthened alongside copper, with seven major grades advancing 3¢/lb:

70/30 Brass Scrap
80/20 Brass Scrap
85/15 Brass Scrap
Brass Radiator
Red Brass
Red Borings
Yellow Brass

Brass Radiator/Fe and Brass Radiator Ends were unchanged.

The latest gains followed increases of 2¢/lb on October 23 and 1¢/lb on October 26 across the same seven advancing grades.

Stainless Steel Scrap Prices Decline

Stainless steel moved lower after remaining unchanged on Monday.

330 SS: ↓3¢/lb.
310 SS: ↓2¢/lb.
301 SS, 304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning, 309 SS and 316 SS Solid: ↓1¢/lb each.
201 SS: → Flat.

The largest decline was recorded in 330 SS, which also posted the strongest stainless increase during the October 22 session.

Steel Scrap Prices Remain Unchanged

All seven reported North American steel scrap grades maintained their previous benchmarks:

#1 Bundle, #1 Busheling, #1 HMS, HMS 80/20, Sheet Metal, Shredded Auto Scrap and Structural Steel.

Steel continued to hold the gains recorded on October 21, when listed ferrous benchmarks advanced $10–$15 per metric ton.

Live and Historical Scrap Prices

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POLL

Which North American scrap metal category showed the strongest price performance on October 27, 2026?

Copper

Aluminum

Brass/Bronze

Frequently Asked Questions

How did North American scrap metal prices perform on October 27, 2026?

North American scrap metal prices moved broadly higher on the ScrapMonster Price Index. Copper recorded the strongest gains, followed by modest increases in brass/bronze and aluminum. Stainless steel prices declined, while steel scrap prices remained stable across all tracked grades.

Which copper scrap grades recorded the largest price increases?

#1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, #1 Copper Bare Bright and #3 Copper-Light Copper each gained $0.11 per lb. These increases were more than double the $0.05-per-lb gains recorded in the previous session, indicating stronger upward momentum in the copper scrap market.

Why did aluminum and brass/bronze scrap prices rise?

Aluminum prices strengthened across a broad range of grades, with most increases ranging from $0.01 to $0.02 per lb. Brass and bronze scrap prices also advanced, with several major grades gaining $0.03 per lb. The Index reflected broad-based gains across these non-ferrous categories, although some grades remained unchanged.