US Steel Scrap Price Tracker
Weekly Pricing & Market Intelligence Report
1. Executive Summary
2. Weekly Price Snapshot
2.1 #1 Busheling Prices
2.2 HMS 1&2 Prices
2.3 Shredded Scrap Prices
2.4 Turkey Export HMS 80:20 Benchmark
2.5 Six-Week Price Comparison
3. Domestic Demand & Mill Production Backdrop
3.1 US Raw Steel Production Trends
3.2 Capacity Utilization
3.3 Regional Production Performance
3.4 EAF Demand for Scrap
3.5 Seasonal Demand Conditions
4. Mill Margin Dynamics: The Widening HRC–Scrap Spread
4.1 Hot-Rolled Coil Price Trends
4.2 #1 Busheling Cost Trends
4.3 HRC–Scrap Spread Analysis
4.4 EAF Producer Margin Implications
4.5 Impact on Scrap Suppliers and Processors
5. Export Channel & the Turkish Benchmark
5.1 Turkey as a Global Scrap Import Benchmark
5.2 Northern European and Baltic Supply
5.3 US East Coast Export Activity
5.4 HMS 80:20 CFR Price Trends
5.5 Domestic vs. Export Price Divergence
5.6 Impact on Material Flows
6. US Ferrous Scrap Value Chain
6.1 Scrap Generation
6.2 Collection and Processing
6.3 ISRI Grade Classification
6.4 Domestic Mill Supply Chain
6.5 Export Market Channels
7. Company Cost Signals & Segment Economics
7.1 Nucor Corporation
7.2 Commercial Metals Company (CMC)
7.3 Steel Mill Shipment Trends
7.4 Ferrous Scrap Utilization Costs
7.5 Steel Product Metal Margins
7.6 Implications for Scrap Market Economics
8. Policy, Trade Flows & Macro Context
8.1 Producer Price Index Trends
8.2 Iron and Steel Scrap Cost Movements
8.3 US Steel Import Licensing Activity
8.4 Impact of Imports on Domestic Steel Production
8.5 Broader Market Balance
9. Grading Standards & Market Structure
9.1 ISRI Classification Framework
9.2 #1 Busheling Specifications
9.3 Heavy Melting Steel (HMS) Grades
9.4 Shredded Scrap Classification
9.5 Domestic and Export Market Comparability
10. Market Outlook
10.1 September Market Expectations
10.2 Demand and Supply Outlook
10.3 Prime Grade Price Outlook
10.4 Seasonal Restocking Potential
10.5 Export Market as a Swing Factor
10.6 Key Risks and Opportunities
11. Frequently Asked Questions
11.1 What is #1 Busheling Scrap?
11.2 Why Does #1 Busheling Command a Premium?
11.3 Why Did HRC Prices Rise While Scrap Prices Fell?
11.4 How Closely Do US and Turkish Scrap Prices Move Together?
11.5 Which Grade Has the Widest Premium Over HMS 1&2?
11.6 Will Scrap Price Softness Continue Into September?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is #1 busheling scrap and why does it command the highest price?
It is a prime, low-residual grade sourced mainly from manufacturing offcuts, and mills favor it because it melts cleanly into flat-rolled steel with minimal contamination.
Why did HRC prices rise while scrap prices fell in August 2026?
Softer scrap demand amid ample mill inventories eased input costs even as constrained import competition and firm order books supported finished hot-rolled coil pricing.
How closely do US domestic and Turkish export scrap prices move together?
They are related but not identical, since Turkish CFR pricing also reflects ocean freight, European supply availability, and Turkish mill demand independent of the US domestic market.
Which grade shows the widest price gap versus HMS 1&2?
#1 busheling, which typically commands a $35–$45 per gross ton premium over HMS 1&2 given its cleaner chemistry and lower processing loss.
Is the current scrap price softness expected to persist into September?
Consulting-firm sentiment surveys point to only shallow further softening, with seasonal restocking demand seen as a potential stabilizing factor.