North American Scrap Metal Prices Hold Steady Amid Slight Upticks in Copper and Aluminum

The North American scrap metal market saw mixed but mostly stable prices on August 18, 2026. Copper and aluminum grades showed slight upticks in some cases, while others remained flat. #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, for instance, advanced by one cent per pound.

#1 Insulated Copper Wire at 85% recovery and #2 Insulated Copper Wire at 50% recovery held steady on the Index, however. #3 Copper-Light Copper gained one cent per pound.

In the aluminum segment, various grades such as 1100 Scrap, 3003 Scrap, and E.C. Aluminum Wire posted slight increases of one or two cents per pound compared to the prior day. Other aluminum grades like Al/Cu Radiators and Al/Cu Radiators/Fe were unchanged.