Fastmarkets launches US lead scrap battery export prices

Fastmarkets strategically launched lead scrap whole battery US export prices on an FAS East Coast, West Coast and Southeast basis to elevate its current coverage in the US market.

Lead scrap battery export prices offer valuable insight into broader market dynamics and have been a consistent talking point and a significant driver of the domestic market, with sources pointing to differing market dynamics surrounding major export hubs.

Recent export demand from countries such as South Korea and India weighed heavily on domestic pricing. South Korea is the top importer of the US material. Though India faces heavy import restrictions due to a lead-acid battery hazardous material classifications, the country still imports large quantities of lead scrap batteries.

Lead scrap battery exports have grown consecutively since 2023. In 2025, the US exported 37,156 tonnes of lead scrap batteries, up by 25.6% from 2024, according to the latest US Census Bureau data. The US exported 29,577 tonnes of lead scrap batteries in 2024, up by 15% from 2023.

This demand, which market participants expect to remain strong, represents a key market that Fastmarkets now has the opportunity to report and provide insight on.

In launching coastal export prices, Fastmarkets will be able to give a full scope of trade activity and shed light on an otherwise opaque market.

Fastmarkets launched a suite of lead scrap battery export prices, with the following specifications:

MB-PB-0113 Lead scrap whole batteries, exporter selling price US, fas East Coast, US cents/lb
Quantity: 20 tonnes
Incoterm: Free Alongside Ship (FAS)
Location: FAS selling point at export destination
Specification: Consisting of SLI (starting, lighting & ignition), automotive, truck, 8-D and commercial golf cart and marine-type batteries. Cases to be either plastic or rubber and to be complete. Non-lead (i.e., ni-cad, nife, carbonaire, etc.) not acceptable. Other types i.e. aircraft (aluminium) gel-cel, lawnmower, etc., and partial, cracked or broken batteries or batteries without caps and the amount of liquid content and any variations to the specification subject to special agreement. Review packaging specifications and regulatory status pertaining to shipping with buyer prior to sale.
Unit and Currency: US cents per pound
Delivery/loading period: Within 30 days
Data window: Tuesday 4-5pm to the following Tuesday 4-5pm, US Eastern Standard Time
Frequency: Weekly, Tuesday at 4-5pm US Eastern Standard Time. Follows non-ferrous metals price reporting holiday schedule.
Notes: ReMA Code: Rink

MB-PB-0114 Lead scrap whole batteries, exporter selling price US, fas West Coast, US cents/lb
Quantity: 20 tonnes
Incoterm: Free Alongside Ship (FAS)
Location: FAS selling point at export destination
Specification: Consisting of SLI (starting, lighting & ignition), automotive, truck, 8-D and commercial golf cart and marine-type batteries. Cases to be either plastic or rubber and to be complete. Non-lead (i.e., ni-cad, nife, carbonaire, etc.) not acceptable. Other types i.e. aircraft (aluminium) gel-cel, lawnmower, etc., and partial, cracked or broken batteries or batteries without caps and the amount of liquid content and any variations to the specification subject to special agreement. Review packaging specifications and regulatory status pertaining to shipping with buyer prior to sale.
Unit and Currency: US cents per pound
Delivery/loading period: Within 30 days
Data window: Tuesday 4-5pm to the following Tuesday 4-5pm, US Eastern Standard Time
Frequency: Weekly, Tuesday at 4-5pm US Eastern Standard Time. Follows non-ferrous metals price reporting holiday schedule.
Notes: ReMA Code: Rink

MB-PB-0115 Lead scrap whole batteries, exporter selling price US, fas Southeast, US cents/lb
Quantity: 20 tonnes
Incoterm: Free Alongside Ship (FAS)
Location: FAS selling point at export destination
Specification: Consisting of SLI (starting, lighting & ignition), automotive, truck, 8-D and commercial golf cart and marine-type batteries. Cases to be either plastic or rubber and to be complete. Non-lead (i.e., ni-cad, nife, carbonaire, etc.) not acceptable. Other types i.e. aircraft (aluminium) gel-cel, lawnmower, etc., and partial, cracked or broken batteries or batteries without caps and the amount of liquid content and any variations to the specification subject to special agreement. Review packaging specifications and regulatory status pertaining to shipping with buyer prior to sale.
Unit and Currency: US cents per pound
Delivery/loading period: Within 30 days
Data window: Tuesday 4-5pm to the following Tuesday 4-5pm, US Eastern Standard Time
Frequency: Weekly, Tuesday at 4-5pm US Eastern Standard Time. Follows non-ferrous metals price reporting holiday schedule.
Notes: ReMA Code: Rink

If you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter to these prices or if you would like to provide feedback, please contact pricing@fastmarkets.com and metalsrecycling@fastmarkets.com. Please indicate if comments are confidential. Fastmarkets will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.

To see all Fastmarkets pricing methodology and specification documents, go to the Fastmarkets methodology page.