US Scrap Trends Outlook: June

The outlook for North American steel scrap prices has headed further into bearish territory ahead of June's trade, with prices for all grades expected to fall again after a round of across-the-board decreases in May

Outlook for steel scrap price in June

The US steel scrap market is headed for its second consecutive month of downturn across all grades in June with the onset of the typically quiet summer season ushering in further weakness.

The Trend Indicator tipped into increasingly bearish territory with a posting of 34.4, down from May’s already-negative reading of 35.4. The scrap trends outlook’s prediction model allows for a potential average price drop of 13% in June. Learn more in our latest scrap outlook.

A significant 62.5% of survey participants anticipate that prices will be lower in June versus May while 29% posit that the market could trend sideways over the period. Lower scrap demand is the driving factor behind June’s slated downward correction according to 54.41% of respondents. Find out what US steel scrap buyers, sellers and brokers think about market conditions.

Pre-trade expectations for steel scrap prices

Shredded scrap is expected to underperform its cut and prime counterparts next month. Pre-trade talk that mills will be looking to redress the balance in Midwest shredded scrap prices – which are trending $50 higher per ton than their Southern equivalents in some instances – is likely fueling this expectation.

A lack of robust export options may pull the rug further from under the market for cuts and shred following a period of sequential decline in prices to Turkey. Overall trend consensus rose to 65% in June versus 59% in May, suggesting that the market is increasingly aligned on the direction the market will take. Learn more.

Make sense of the US steel scrap market and track the critical indicators impacting steel scrap price movements in our latest outlook.

What to read next
Fastmarkets launched two new aluminium scrap prices on Thursday, April 9, adding to Fastmarkets’ suite of recycled non-ferrous metals price assessments. The launch will elevate and expand Fastmarkets’ aluminium scrap coverage by including the following grades: Section 232 tariffs and the resulting high aluminium premiums have led to increased costs and rising interest in recycled […]
Logistics disruptions, sharply higher freight costs and limited raw materials supply are among the main impacts from the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel and Iran on the Middle East's steel market, Asam Hussain, the chief executive officer of Arabian Gulf Steel Industries (AGSI), told Fastmarkets on Wednesday April 1.
The annual consultation sought to ensure that our audited methodologies and price specifications continue to reflect the physical markets for steelmaking raw materials, in compliance with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) principles for Price Reporting Agencies (PRAs). This includes all elements of our pricing process, our price specifications and publication frequency. The current methodology […]
Here are the key takeaways from market participants on US ferrous scrap metal prices, market confidence, inventory and more from our April survey.
This consultation, which is open until April 30, seeks to ensure that our methodologies continue to reflect the physical market, in compliance with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) principles for Price Reporting Agencies (PRAs). This includes all elements of our pricing process, our price specifications and publication frequency. The price under review is:MB-IRO-0004 […]
Fastmarkets is extending the consultation period for the methodology of several of its black mass payables indicators and prices, and is also proposing changes to the names of CIF South Korea and EWX Europe black mass prices.