Scrap Metal, Recycling, Global Economic and Commodities Report 9/14/26

This is the Recycling, Scrap Metal, Commodities and Economic Report, September 14th, 2026 produced by BENLEE Roll-off trailers to support our customers, suppliers, and partners.

U.S. weekly raw steel production fell to 1.808MT down .6% from last week, but up 5.4% year to date on 78.3% capacity utilization. Also, on the 50% steel tariff protection and the slow growth in demand.

Crude oil WTI price rose to $99.99/b on escalating fighting in the Middle East.

U.S. weekly crude oil production rose to 13,947Tb/d a record high on high prices and good demand.

The U.S. weekly crude oil rig count rose to 450 on the same high prices and continued great productivity per well.

Scrap Steel #1 HMS price composite was steady at $348.33/GT on the 50% steel tariff protection and a good balance of supply and demand.

Hot-Roll Coil steel price rose to $63.70/cwt, $1,274/T up a huge 57.67% increase the past 12 months. This was on the 50% steel tariff protection and steel mills keeping supplies tight to increase margins.

Copper price fell to $6.56/lb. remaining very high on concerns over possible coming U.S. copper tariffs. Also, on supply concerns from mines around the world.

Aluminum price fell to $1.48/lb, $3,257/mt up 29.6% from last year. 9% of global supply is limited by problems in the Middle East.

China August trade surplus. Note that the U.S. has a huge trade deficit. China’s surplus widened to $119.1B as exports jumped 25%. Shipments to the U.S. surged 34.4% with the U.S. surplus with China at $29B the highest since January 2025.

U.S. August existing home sales fell 2% to 3.98M annualized near a multi-year low. This was on high home price and the 30-year mortgage rate now over 7%.

U.S. September U of M Consumer Sentiment Survey fell to 47.8, the second lowest on record. Year ahead expectations for personal finances and business conditions fell. Year-ahead inflation expectations jumped to 4.6%.

U.S. August consumer annual inflation called CPI. It was steady at 3.4% but well above the 2% target. Gasoline rose 27.4% as food rose 2.7%. Core inflation that excludes food and energy fell to 2.4% which is good news.

U.S. August NFIB small business optimism index fell to 98.7 but remains fairly high. Sales slowed with inflation and taxes as the major issues.

Wall Street’s Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 987 points to 52,573 on multiyear high interest rates and the fighting the Middle East. Odds are high that the Federal Reserve will increase interest rates this week.