Global steel scrap consumption totals 525 million metric tons. Recycling operations save 74 percent of the energy used in virgin steel production while cutting global CO2 emissions by 58 percent. Figures on regional demand, generation volumes, trade prices, and market values map current supply constraints and growth patterns.
Key Takeaways
- Global steel scrap consumption was 525 million metric tons in 2022.
- U.S. mills consumed 125 million tons of scrap in 2023.
- Turkey imported and consumed 35 million tons of scrap in 2022.
- Recycling steel scrap saves 74% of energy compared to virgin production.
- Scrap-based steel production reduces CO2 emissions by 58% globally.
- U.S. scrap recycling conserved 145 million metric tons of iron ore in 2023.
- The global scrap metal market was valued at USD 448.6 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2023 to 2030.
- In 2023, the U.S. scrap metal recycling industry generated $50.4 billion in revenue.
- Europe's scrap metal market reached €120 billion in value in 2022.
- U.S. shredded steel scrap price averaged $320 per gross ton in Q4 2023.
- Global HMS 1&2 (80:20) scrap price reached $450/mt CFR Turkey in Oct 2023.
- EU bonus scrap premium over base was €25/tonne in 2023.
- Global steel scrap generation reached 721 million metric tons in 2022.
- U.S. produced 138 million tons of ferrous scrap in 2023.
- EU-27 generated 110 million tonnes of steel scrap in 2022.
In 2022 to 2023, steel and non ferrous scrap recycling surged, cutting CO2 and saving vast energy worldwide.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumption & Demand30 stats
01
Global steel scrap consumption was 525 million metric tons in 2022.
02
U.S. mills consumed 125 million tons of scrap in 2023.
03
Turkey imported and consumed 35 million tons of scrap in 2022.
04
EU steel industry used 115 million tonnes of scrap in 2023.
05
China consumed 240 million tons of steel scrap in 2023.
06
India steel scrap demand reached 28 million tons in FY2023.
07
Japan mini-mills consumed 24 million tons of scrap in FY2022.
08
U.S. aluminum consumption from scrap 3.8 million tons in 2023.
09
Global copper scrap consumption 3.4 million tonnes in 2022.
10
Brazil steel scrap usage 16 million tons in 2023.
11
South Korea consumed 17 million tons of ferrous scrap in 2022.
12
Russia scrap consumption 13.5 million tons in 2023.
13
Australia steel industry scrap use 4.8 million tons in 2022.
14
UK consumed 10.5 million tonnes of steel scrap in 2023.
15
Mexico scrap demand 11 million tons in 2022.
16
Global stainless scrap consumption 20 million tons in 2023.
17
Canada ferrous scrap use 6.9 million tons in 2023.
18
Iran steel scrap consumption 5.2 million tons in 2022.
19
South Africa scrap demand 3.4 million tons in 2023.
20
Vietnam consumed 9 million tons of scrap in 2022.
21
Global lead scrap demand 1.4 million tonnes in 2023.
22
U.S. copper scrap consumption 2 million tons in 2023.
23
EU non-ferrous scrap use 2.8 million tonnes in 2022.
24
India aluminum scrap demand 1.3 million tons in FY2023.
25
Worldwide zinc scrap consumption 900,000 tonnes in 2023.
26
Thailand scrap consumption 4.5 million tons in 2022.
27
Global nickel scrap demand 500,000 tonnes in 2023.
28
U.S. stainless scrap use 2.5 million tons in 2023.
29
China's non-ferrous scrap consumption 6.2 million tons in 2023.
30
Global e-scrap metal demand from recycling 9 million tons in 2022.
Interpretation
Consumption & Demand Interpretation
The sheer tonnage of global scrap consumption proves the old industrial adage that one person's trash is truly another's foundry fortune, with China and the U.S. leading a surprisingly circular, and massive, metals buffet.
02 · Category
Environmental & Sustainability27 stats
01
Recycling steel scrap saves 74% of energy compared to virgin production.
02
Scrap-based steel production reduces CO2 emissions by 58% globally.
03
U.S. scrap recycling conserved 145 million metric tons of iron ore in 2023.
04
Aluminum scrap recycling saves 95% energy versus primary aluminum.
05
Global steel scrap recycling rate reached 32.4% in 2022.
06
Copper scrap recycling avoids 85% fewer greenhouse gases.
07
EU steel scrap recycling prevented 300 million tons CO2 eq in 2022.
08
U.S. ferrous scrap recycling diverted 175 million tons from landfills in 2023.
09
Global e-waste recycling recovers 22.3% of metals, leaving 80% untapped.
10
Recycling 1 ton of steel scrap saves 1.1 tons of iron ore and 630 kg coal.
11
Lead scrap recycling rate is 99% in automotive batteries in EU.
12
Zinc scrap recycling reduces energy use by 80%.
13
U.S. non-ferrous scrap recycling saved 25 billion gallons of water in 2023.
14
Global ship recycling handles 90% of end-of-life vessels, yielding 20M tons scrap annually.
15
Stainless steel scrap recycling cuts emissions by 70%.
16
India steel scrap use avoided 50 million tons CO2 in FY2023.
17
Nickel scrap recycling saves 75% energy.
18
Turkey EAF steel from scrap emits 0.4 tCO2/ton vs 2.0 for BF-BOF.
19
Global recycling of automotive scrap recovers 95% of vehicle weight.
20
U.S. scrap industry reduces GHG by 200 million metric tons annually.
21
EU non-ferrous scrap recycling rate over 50% for most metals.
22
Recycling 1 ton copper scrap saves 2.2 tons ore and 1 ton concentrate.
23
Brazil scrap recycling conserved 30 million tons ore equivalent in 2023.
24
Global battery scrap recycling projected to handle 1.5M tons lithium-ion by 2030.
25
U.K. steel scrap recycling saves 20 million tons CO2 yearly.
26
South Africa scrap use in EAF reduces SOx emissions by 90%.
27
Vietnam scrap recycling diverts 5 million tons waste from landfills annually.
Interpretation
Environmental & Sustainability Interpretation
While the scrap metal industry might seem like it's just tidying up our mess, it's actually running a clandestine energy-saving operation that, if it were a superhero, would be quietly thwarting climate change by the metric ton.
03 · Category
Market Size & Value30 stats
01
The global scrap metal market was valued at USD 448.6 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2023 to 2030.
02
In 2023, the U.S. scrap metal recycling industry generated $50.4 billion in revenue.
03
Europe's scrap metal market reached €120 billion in value in 2022.
04
The ferrous scrap segment accounted for 65% of the global scrap metal market share in 2022.
05
Asia-Pacific held 42% of the global scrap metal market revenue in 2023.
06
The scrap metal recycling market in India was valued at INR 1.2 lakh crore in FY2023.
07
Global scrap metal trade volume reached 400 million metric tons in 2022.
08
U.S. scrap exports were valued at $10.2 billion in 2023.
09
The non-ferrous scrap market size was USD 112.5 billion globally in 2022.
10
China's domestic scrap metal market valued at RMB 800 billion in 2023.
11
Scrap steel market in North America projected to reach USD 75 billion by 2028.
12
Global e-scrap metal recycling market valued at USD 45 billion in 2023.
13
Middle East scrap metal market size stood at USD 15.2 billion in 2022.
14
Latin America's scrap recycling industry revenue hit USD 25 billion in 2023.
15
UK scrap metal sector turnover was £6.5 billion in 2022.
16
Australia's scrap metal market valued at AUD 4.2 billion in FY2023.
17
Turkey's scrap imports valued at $12 billion in 2023.
18
Global automotive scrap metal market size USD 30 billion in 2022.
19
Japan scrap metal recycling market at JPY 2.5 trillion in 2023.
20
South Korea's ferrous scrap market valued at KRW 10 trillion in 2022.
21
Brazil scrap metal industry revenue USD 8.5 billion in 2023.
22
Global shipbreaking scrap metal market USD 5.2 billion in 2023.
23
Canada's scrap metal recycling market CAD 12 billion in 2022.
24
Russia's scrap exports valued at $4.1 billion in 2023.
25
Southeast Asia scrap market size USD 18 billion in 2023.
26
Mexico's scrap metal trade volume value USD 3.5 billion in 2022.
27
Global battery scrap metal market USD 10.8 billion in 2023.
28
South Africa's scrap industry revenue ZAR 50 billion in 2023.
29
Iran's scrap metal market valued at $2.9 billion in 2022.
30
Worldwide appliance scrap metal recycling market USD 7.5 billion in 2023.
Interpretation
Market Size & Value Interpretation
While the world fixates on shiny new things, a half-trillion-dollar global empire is quietly and profitably built on the artful resurrection of what we've thrown away, proving one person's trash is truly another's staggering fortune.
More related reading
04 · Category
Prices & Trade30 stats
01
U.S. shredded steel scrap price averaged $320per gross ton in Q4 2023.
02
Global HMS 1&2 (80:20) scrap price reached $450/mt CFR Turkey in Oct 2023.
03
EU bonus scrap premium over base was €25/tonne in 2023.
04
U.S. aluminum tense scrap price $0.85/lb in Dec 2023.
05
London Metal Exchange copper scrap index at $8,200/tonne in 2023 avg.
06
Turkey scrap import price for HMS $410/mt CFR in Nov 2023.
07
India shredded scrap landed price INR 38,000/tonne in Q3 2023.
08
U.S. #1 busheling scrap $380/gt in Jan 2024.
09
Global stainless 304 scrap price $1,800/tonne in 2023.
10
Brazil scrap export price $380/mt FOB in 2023 avg.
11
China domestic OB scrap RMB 2,800/tonne in Q4 2023.
12
U.S. exports of ferrous scrap totaled 17 million tons in 2023.
13
World scrap trade volume 130 million metric tons in 2022.
14
Turkey imported 34 million tons of scrap in 2023.
15
U.S. to Mexico scrap exports 6.5 million tons in 2023.
16
EU intra-trade scrap volume 50 million tonnes in 2022.
17
India scrap imports 7.2 million tons in FY2023.
18
Global copper scrap trade 1.5 million tonnes in 2023.
19
Bangladesh scrap imports 1.8 million tons in 2023.
20
U.S. aluminum scrap exports 1.2 million tons in 2023.
21
China banned scrap imports leading to 20% drop in volume 2018-2023.
22
Pakistan scrap imports 2.1 million tons valued at $900 million in 2023.
23
Global lead scrap trade 600,000 tonnes in 2023.
24
EU exports of non-ferrous scrap 1.1 million tonnes in 2022.
25
Vietnam scrap imports 6.8 million tons in 2023.
26
U.S. stainless scrap export price $1,200/ton in 2023.
27
Indonesia scrap demand drove imports to 3.5 million tons in 2023.
28
Global zinc scrap trade 400,000 tonnes valued at $1.2 billion in 2023.
29
Malaysia scrap imports 1.4 million tons in 2023.
30
U.K. scrap export price £300/tonne avg in 2023.
Interpretation
Prices & Trade Interpretation
Despite commanding wildly different prices around the globe, from copper's premium to aluminum's relative anxiety, the world's scrap metal frenzy is a brutally efficient, multi-billion-ton dance where everyone—from Turkey’s voracious mills to U.S. exporters—is desperately circling the same shrinking pile of our discarded civilization.
05 · Category
Production & Supply30 stats
01
Global steel scrap generation reached 721 million metric tons in 2022.
02
U.S. produced 138 million tons of ferrous scrap in 2023.
03
EU-27 generated 110 million tonnes of steel scrap in 2022.
04
India scrap steel production hit 25 million tons in FY2023.
05
China generated 220 million metric tons of scrap steel in 2023.
06
Turkey produced 32 million tons of scrap metal in 2022.
07
Japan ferrous scrap supply was 26 million tons in FY2022.
08
U.S. aluminum scrap generation totaled 4.2 million tons in 2023.
09
Global copper scrap production reached 3.1 million tonnes in 2022.
10
Brazil generated 18 million tons of ferrous scrap in 2023.
11
South Korea scrap steel output 15 million tons in 2022.
12
Russia produced 12 million tons of scrap metal in 2023.
13
Australia generated 5.5 million tons of steel scrap in 2022.
14
UK scrap supply volume 12 million tonnes in 2023.
15
Mexico ferrous scrap generation 10 million tons in 2022.
16
Global stainless steel scrap production 18 million tons in 2023.
17
Canada scrap metal output 7.2 million tons in 2023.
18
Iran generated 4.8 million tons of scrap steel in 2022.
19
South Africa steel scrap supply 3.1 million tons in 2023.
20
Vietnam scrap production reached 8 million tons in 2022.
21
Global lead scrap generation 1.2 million tonnes in 2023.
22
U.S. copper scrap supply 1.8 million tons in 2023.
23
EU non-ferrous scrap production 2.5 million tonnes in 2022.
24
India aluminum scrap generation 1.1 million tons in FY2023.
25
Worldwide zinc scrap output 800,000 tonnes in 2023.
26
Thailand scrap metal production 4.2 million tons in 2022.
27
Global nickel scrap supply 450,000 tonnes in 2023.
28
U.S. stainless scrap generation 2.3 million tons in 2023.
29
China's non-ferrous scrap output 5.8 million tons in 2023.
30
World e-waste scrap metal content 8 million tons in 2022.
Interpretation
Production & Supply Interpretation
The world is quietly forging a circular economy from its own wreckage, as this mountain of discarded metal proves we're finally learning to mine our past instead of just plundering our future.
Reference
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APA
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Scrap Metal Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/scrap-metal-industry-statistics
MLA
Rachel Svensson. "Scrap Metal Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/scrap-metal-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Scrap Metal Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/scrap-metal-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
83 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level