STEEL SCRAP WRAP: Prices may break through $500/t, sources say

Global steel scrap prices surged in the week to Friday May 7 and could well break through the $500 per tonne cfr mark, starting in Asia, market sources have told Fastmarkets.

This was due to the continued demand for steelmaking raw materials and the current high prices for alternative iron ore feedstock, they said.

  • Turkish scrap import prices spike
  • Sentiment in US remains bullish
  • Possible $485 per tonne cfr deal in Vietnam
  • China returns from holiday to booming steel prices
  • Taiwan sees price uptick on tight supply
  • India prices move up but buyers hesitate.

Turkey
The sudden increase in import prices in the key market of Turkey caught market participants by surprise.

Turkish steel mills booked materials at prices as high as $479-480 per tonne cfr on May 6, compared with $471 per tonne cfr on May 5.

Downstream export prices for steel rebar and billet also supported the prices increases, especially with the news of China cancelling export rebates and imposing zero-rate duties on semi-finished steel.

Pricing history
steel scrap HMS 1&2 (80:20 mix), Northern Europe origin, cfr Turkey.
steel scrap HMS 1&2 (80:20), US origin, cfr Turkey.

United States
Bullish sentiment in the US prevailed because of the rocketing prices in Turkey. Unforeseen demand-side fundamentals were also supporting domestic price negotiations.

Pricing history
steel scrap HMS 1&2 (80:20), export index, fob New York.
steel scrap shredded scrap, export index, fob New York.
steel scrap, HMS 1&2 (80:20), export index, fob Los Angeles.

Vietnam
There was a transaction heard at $480 per tonne cfr Vietnam for a Japanese H2-grade cargo, and another heard concluded at $485 per tonne cfr Vietnam for a bulk deep-sea cargo.

Pricing history

steel scrap, HMS 1&2 (80:20), cfr Vietnam.

China
China returned from its week-long Labor Day holiday to a booming steel and scrap market, causing import prices to increase.

Pricing history
steel scrap, heavy recycled steel materials, cfr China.

Taiwan
A dearth of cargoes has led to prices increasing, with sellers withholding offers on expectations of further price rises.

Pricing history
steel scrap, HMS 1&2 (80:20 mix), US material import, cfr main port Taiwan.

India
Prices for shredded scrap into India moved up throughout the week but buyers were hesitant about booking material due to the Covid-19 outbreak in the country.

Pricing history
steel scrap, shredded, index, import, cfr Nhava Sheva, India.

What to read next
Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on the methodology for its audited steelmaking raw materials indices, as part of its announced annual methodology review process. The consultation, which is open until Friday March 27, seeks to ensure that our audited methodologies and price specifications continue to reflect the physical markets for steelmaking raw materials, […]
Lithium hydroxide production outside China continues to encounter operational hurdles and softer downstream demand, slowing the pace at which new capacity can achieve stable commercial output.
The publication of Fastmarkets' Value-In-Use (VIU) indices for February 25 2026 were delayed due to a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.
The publication of the affected price was delayed for 2 hours 36 minutes. The following assessment was published late: MB-LI-0043 Spodumene min 6% Li2O, contract price, cif China, $/tonne This price is a part of the Fastmarkets industrial minerals package. For more information or to provide feedback on the delayed publication of this price, or if […]
Mariana Minerals is aiming to reduce US lithium production costs by roughly 20% using software to manage plant operations, the company’s chief executive officer told Fastmarkets.
The erroneously published price assessments on Monday February 16 have been invalidated. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated to reflect this change. The assessment was last published on February 2, and the next publication date will be March 2. The assessment follows the Chinese holiday calendar. The following assessments were affected:MB-FEN-0003 Ferro-nickel premium/discount, 26-32% Ni contained, […]