STEEL SCRAP WRAP: Prices slipping across global markets

Steel scrap prices in the key global markets moved down over the week to Friday August 6 with demand for material remaining tepid.

  • Turkish mills make fresh bookings at lower prices
  • US export prices consistent in recent bookings
  • Vietnam scrap prices down on weak demand
  • Chinese import prices fall alongside domestic pricing
  • Taiwanese scrap prices continue downtrend on poor demand
  • Indian scrap offers withdrawn from market.

Turkey
Mills in Turkey booked at least five deep-sea cargoes this week, with prices dropping through the week despite rising freight rates, due to continued poor demand for finished long 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
Prices in the United States export market have remained consistent on the cargoes sold to Turkey this week.

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
Prices on the Vietnamese scrap market continued to slip during the week due to weak downstream demand for long steel.

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

China
In China, scrap prices move downward across the week on a drop in domestic scrap pricing linked to enforced production cuts.

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

Taiwan
Spot prices in Taiwan continued on a downtrend amid poor demand.

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

India
Prices for shredded steel scrap into India moved progressively lower through the working week.

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

What to read next
Alex Kershaw unpacks the recent volatility in global scrap steel markets and what is driving price movements across key regions. From the US and Europe to Turkey and China, the discussion explores how rising energy and freight costs are lifting prices despite weak steel demand.
As US automotive OEMs localize supply chains and accelerate EV rollout, margin pressure is intensifying across steel, aluminium and battery inputs.
In this short episode of Fast Forward, Alex Kershaw, senior analyst for steel, raw materials and ferrous scrap at Fastmarkets, unpacks the recent volatility in global scrap steel markets and what is driving price movements across key regions.
As Brazil implemented protective measures against Chinese flat steel — enforcing anti-dumping duties on cold-rolled coil, coated steel, and pre-painted steel sequentially since early 2026 — China's monthly exports of finished steel to the country declined to their lowest levels since 2024, significantly reducing a market that previously consumed over 400,000 tonnes per month.
Despite mixed signals on box demand, significant capacity reductions and rising costs are enabling US containerboard producers to push for a second major price increase this year.
The following price was affected: MB-STE-0923 Flat steel reduced carbon emissions, daily inferred, exw China, yuan/tonne, scheduled for 5-6pm China Standard Time (Shanghai), was published at 9:13pm. This price is part of the Fastmarkets steel package. For more information or to provide feedback on the delayed publication of this price, or if you would like […]