Global Scrap Metal Recycling Market 2025 – 2034

Reports Description

As per the Scrap Metal Recycling Market analysis conducted by the CMI Team, the global scrap metal recycling market is expected to record a CAGR of 4.34% from 2025 to 2034. In 2025, the market size will be USD 444.85 Billion. By 2034, the valuation is anticipated to reach USD 652.95 Billion.

Scrap Metal Recycling Market Overview

The scrap metal recycling market is expected to witness steadiness during the forecast period. This could be credited to an increase in awareness amongst the individuals to resort to being environmentally friendly. As such, demand for scrap metals is on the rise. It is a known fact that recycling scrap metals makes way for an economically viable and sustainable option for procuring raw materials. North America is projected to be the quickest growing region owing to stern government regulations that promote recycling.

Though mandates regarding recycling and landfill restrictions would be boosting the volumes of collection of scrap metal, the fluctuations in scrap prices are challenging to the scrap metal recycling market. Regarding the supply side, consolidation of recycling operations and improvement in scrap sorting technology do offer opportunities for gaining traction. There are advanced metal treatments available for facilitating higher production of scrap grade. The market is also expected to see opportunities from demolitions of old buildings in urban settings. Recycling processes can be streamlined through collaboration between alloy producers and secondary smelters.

Scrap Metal Recycling Market Key Growth Drivers

• Development of Infrastructure: The development of infrastructure is driving the demand for recycled metals, thereby leading to a noticeable shift toward various sustainable practices in manufacturing and construction. Recycling of metals is reported to be cheaper as compared to extraction and processing of new metals. It also plays a vital role in recycling as well as manufacturing industries. With the continuation of economic growth and urbanization, the demand for construction materials and infrastructure rises. The recycled metals do offer sustainable solutions for meeting the demand. Iron, lead, aluminium, and copper are being recycled at a larger scale owing to widespread usage at the industrial level. As per the data published by the World Steel Association in November 2024, close to 72% of the production of steel in the U.S. is out of scrap steel. It further states that the industry recycles more than 100 million tons on a yearly basis, which aids in reducing carbon footprint on a drastic note.

Scrap Metal Recycling Market Key Threats

• Volatility in Prices of Raw Materials: The volatility in the prices of raw materials, especially scrap metals, is bound to hamper the market on a significant count. This fluctuation creates uncertainties for the industries relying on such materials. As such, planning as well as forecasting turn out to be difficult for the businesses, thereby adversely impacting expansion and investment strategies. The sectors that could be affected include automotive, construction, and electronics, who are heavily dependent on the metal materials. Adoption of precise pricing and hedging strategies for minimization of business risks is the cornerstone as far as the market restraints are concerned.

Scrap Metal Recycling Market Opportunities

The technological advancements with regard to recycling processes and machinery are the opportunities to the scrap metal recycling market. The recycling technologies are evolving on a continuous basis, with research basically emphasizing the development of innovative solutions that are capable of enhancing metal recovery rates from scrap. The advancements, such as improved shredding, separation equipment, and sorting, allow for better pre-processing of the scrap prior to metal extraction. On similar grounds, developments in refining and smelting processes aid the recycling companies in obtaining higher-quality materials from the scrap.

What’s trending in Scrap Metal Recycling Market?

• Start-ups are coming up with advanced technologies for transforming the industry. Predictive analytics and machine learning are being preferred for sorting scrap. Portable sensors are also integrated with IoT for real-time scrap composition required for efficient processing. Some have even explored autonomous systems and robotics for handling hazardous scrap. Such innovations do have the potential of increasing workplace safety, productivity, and recovery rates.

• Various start-ups are offering greener alternatives. Some are using AI for designing 100% recyclable packaging and products. The others emphasize production of steel and alloys from the 100% recycled feedstock. The sustainable solutions do address various environmental concerns while generating revenue from the circular economy model.

How is the Aviation Sector affected by Scrap Metal Recycling Market?

The aviation sector has increasingly started utilizing recycled metals such as titanium and aluminium in the production of aircraft components that include fuselages, wings, and engine parts. As per the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the frequency of commercial fleets in the U.S. is expected to reach 8,756 in the year 2041 at a CAGR of 2.0% per year.

Besides, the U.S. has the biggest aviation market in North America and also one of the biggest fleet sizes across the globe. The factors driving production activities in aerospace vertical (apart from the numbers mentioned above) are robust exports of various aerospace components to economies such as Germany, China, and France coupled with extensive consumer spending in the U.S.

The factors mentioned above are expected to inject positivity into the aerospace material market, which translates to flourishing of the scrap metal recycling market.

Scrap Metal Recycling Market Category Wise Insights

By Metal Type

• Non-ferrous: Non-ferrous scrap metal implies metals that are devoid of iron and non-magnetic, such as copper, aluminum, lead, nickel, and zinc. Such materials are sought-after in the recycling vertical owing to their ability to retain their original properties as well as qualities post-recycling. Recycling non-ferrous metals plays an important role in reducing the environmental impact of mining the new metals, conserving energy, and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. The market for such metals is explicit, driven by construction, electronics, packaging, and automotive industries, which rely on sustainable materials for producing several products.

• Ferrous: Ferrous scrap metal, basically consisting of iron and steel, basically leads the scrap recycling industry. This could be due to extensive usage in several sectors, inclusive of construction, automotive, and manufacturing. The ferrous scrap recycling extends support to environmental sustainability by lessening the need for the virgin ore. Plus, it plays an important role by providing cost-effective raw materials for the production of steel.

By Application

• Automotive: Scrap metal recycling is indispensable for the automotive vertical as it contributes to energy savings, resource conservation, and safeguarding the environment. Recycled steel is one of the significant components as far as the production of novel automotive parts is concerned. Research states that 25% of steel that is used in the car bodies falls in the category of ‘recycled steel.’ Moreover, as per a study conducted by the Indian National Academy of Engineering, recycling steel is capable of saving close to 25% of energy as compared to manufacturing it from the ore. Also, efficient recycling has the ability to recover valuable materials such as noble metals, copper, plastics, and rubber from the worn out vehicles.

• Aerospace & Defense: Scrap metal recycling contributes to a more circular and sustainable economy as far as aerospace & defense vertical is concerned. The decommissioned military equipment and aircraft contain a large quantity of recyclable metals such as steel and aluminium, which could be repurposed into new products and parts. This process of recycling not only cuts down on waste but also conserves valuable resources as compared to the extraction of virgin materials and mining. As such, recycling does contribute to the lowering of carbon footprint.

• Construction: Scrap metal recycling noticeably benefits the construction vertical by making provisions for sustainable sources of materials, reducing waste, and saving resources. As stated above, recycled steel offers advantages such as reduced consumption of energy in comparison with virgin materials. Plus, steel slag, one of the by-products of steel production, could be used in concrete as well as the other construction materials, thereby lessening requirements of natural aggregates.

• Electrical & Electronics: Recycled metals, especially from e-waste such as electronics and appliances, could be repurposed as raw materials for the new products in the electrical and electronics vertical. For instance, copper from the old cables as well as components could be used in producing new connectors and wires. Recycling the lithium-ion batteries from the electric vehicles and various other devices could make up for the requirement of lithium for new batteries. It has also been observed that precious metals such as gold get recovered from e-waste, thereby making them available for new electronic components. Recycled aluminium and steel could be used in the production of enclosures, electrical components, and likewise.

• Manufacturing and Industrial Sectors: Metals recovered through recycling could be marketed, thereby providing an extra revenue stream for businesses. Scrap metal does keep waste out of landfills, thereby conserving the landfill space. Scrap steel is one of the primary feedstocks regarding steel production, with recycled steel carrying forward its inherent properties.

• Consumer Appliances: Eco-conscious consumers are asking for sustainable products. Recycling does help them in addressing this demand. Washing machines, refrigerators, and various other appliances contain metals such as aluminum, steel, and copper, which are recycled. Electronic devices, inclusive of computers and phones, contain various precious metals such as silver, gold, and palladium, which could be recovered through recycling. Recycled aluminium and steel could be used in the production of new appliances. Appliance components such as frames, housings, and wiring could be made from recycled metals.

Report Scope

Scrap Metal Recycling Market Regional Perspective

The scrap metal recycling market is classified into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and LAMEA.

• North America: North America is dominating the scrap metal recycling market, and the status quo is expected to remain the same during the forecast period. This could be attributed to growing demand for equipment and automotive manufacturing applications in the U.S. Also, the region is known to be home to a huge industrial base producing a sizable quantity of scrap that could be reprocessed. The leading players, such as Sims Metal Management and Schnitzer, have established efficient logistics networks and recycling infrastructure in the region.

• Europe: Europe is expected to witness steadiness in the scrap metal recycling market during the forecast period. This could be credited to an increasing application of recycled products in verticals such as packaging and automotive in economies such as France, Italy, and Germany. Europe, as a whole, is riding on the refurbishment wave, wherein the old metallic structures are being demolished to build new ones.

• Asia Pacific: China leads the Asia Pacific’s scrap metal recycling market, followed by India. This is due to these countries being manufacturing hubs. The Indian market is also developing due to increasing consumption of products on the part of packaging industries, which is linked to the exploding population worldwide. Additionally, government policies like the National Non-ferrous Metal Scrap Recycling Framework (2020) are catalysing the Indian market in this regard.

• LAMEA: Demand for recycled metals is higher in the construction and packaging industries of Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico and also the countries of MEA. The region is into building and construction activities at a larger scale, which has led to an upswing in demand for scrap metal processing. As an outcome, the market in these two regions is likely to witness significant growth in the near future.

Scrap Metal Recycling Market News Key Developments

The scrap metal recycling market is witnessing a non-taciturn disruption with respect to organic as well as inorganic growth. Some of the developments include –

• In April 2024, Brown Gibbons Lang & Co. (BGL) unleashed the sales of Toledo Shredding LLC (a subsidiary of ProTrade Group based out of Fairlawn, Ohio) to OmniSource LLC. The latter one is Steel Dynamics Inc.’s scrap processing division based at Fort Wayne, Indiana. It specializes in non-ferrous and ferrous metals.

• In December 2023, Greenwave Technology Solutions, Inc. announced that it had invested more than USD 10 Million in scrap metal processing facilities. Its second downstream processing system and automotive shredder commenced operations in the initial quarter of the year 2023.

• In February 2023, Kuusakoski announced that it had begun construction of a novel composite shredding and treatment plan based out of Southern Finland. The plant processes composite waste for its efficient use in the production of cement.

Scrap Metal Recycling Market Competitive Landscape

The scrap metal recycling market is highly competitive, with a large number of product providers globally. Some of the key players in the market include:

• ArcelorMittal
• Aurubis AG
• Kuusakoski Group Oy
• Nucor Corporation
• AIM Recycling
• Sims Limited
• OmniSource LLC
• Metallon Recycling Pte Ltd.
• SA Recycling LLC
• TKC Metal Recycling Inc.
• Jacobs Engineering Group
• MachineShop Inc.
• TMS International Corporation
• Waste Management Inc.
• Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc.
• Others

These firms apply a sequence of strategies to enter the market, including innovations, mergers and acquisitions, as well as collaboration.

The global scrap metal recycling market is shaped by the presence of diversified players that compete based on product innovation, regional reach, vertical integration, and cost efficiency.

The Scrap Metal Recycling Market is segmented as follows:

By Metal Type

• Ferrous
• Non-ferrous

By Application

• Automotive
• Aerospace& Defense
• Construction
• Electrical and Electronics
• Manufacturing and Industrial Sector
• Consumer Appliances
• Others

Regional Coverage:

North America

• U.S.
• Canada
• Mexico
• Rest of North America

Europe

• Germany
• France
• U.K.
• Russia
• Italy
• Spain
• Netherlands
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• New Zealand
• Australia
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Rest of Asia Pacific

The Middle East & Africa

• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Egypt
• Kuwait
• South Africa
• Rest of the Middle East & Africa

Latin America

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Rest of Latin America