Recycled Metal Global Market Report 2026

Recycled metal undergoes a process where used or scrap metal is melted down to form new metal, a practice commonly referred to as metal recycling. This process involves reclaiming and processing scrap metal sourced from buildings or products, repurposing it as raw material to craft new items.

The primary varieties of recycled metal encompass steel, aluminum, copper, and other forms of ferrous, non-ferrous, and precious metals. Steel finds its application in diverse areas such as beams, ductwork, roofing, plumbing, and windows. It's characterized as an iron-carbon alloy with a composition typically featuring less than 2% carbon, 1% manganese, and trace elements of silicon, phosphorus, sulfur, and oxygen. Industries like construction, transportation, automotive, industrial machinery, electronics, defense, packaging, military, consumer goods, and various other end-users heavily rely on recycled metals for their operations and product development.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs on imported scrap metal and recycled metals have affected the market by raising costs and disrupting supply chains, particularly impacting steel, aluminum, and copper segments in north america, europe, and asia-pacific regions. While tariffs have increased production expenses, they have encouraged domestic recycling, promoted local sourcing of scrap metals, and spurred investment in advanced metal recovery technologies.

The recycled metal market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides recycled metal market statistics, including recycled metal industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a recycled metal market share, detailed recycled metal market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the recycled metal industry. This recycled metal market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The recycled metal market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $75.5 billion in 2025 to $80.35 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in construction steel recycling, rising automotive metal scrap recovery, expansion of industrial machinery refurbishment, increasing electronics waste processing, development of non-ferrous metal recycling processes.

The recycled metal market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $104.9 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising demand from electric vehicle production, growth in sustainable packaging materials, increasing industrial automation in metal recycling, expansion of circular economy initiatives, development of advanced recycling technologies for precious metals. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of recycled steel products, rising use of aluminum scrap in manufacturing, growing application of recycled copper components, expansion of specialty alloy recycling, increasing integration of recycled metals in consumer goods.

Rising demand from the construction sector is expected to support the growth of the recycled metal market. The construction industry involves activities related to building, maintaining, and repairing structures, as well as drilling and mineral exploration. Rapid industrialization and urbanization have led to an increase in construction projects, which in turn has created greater need for cost-effective and sustainable building materials. Recycled metals meet this need because they reduce raw material use and provide economic benefits. For example, in June 2024, the UK Office for National Statistics reported that total construction new orders increased by 16.5% in the second quarter of 2024 compared with the first quarter. Therefore, the expansion of construction activity is contributing to the growth of the recycled metal market.

Companies in the recycled metal industry are developing advanced technologies such as AI-powered sorting systems to improve efficiency and material quality. These systems use deep-learning algorithms to automatically identify and separate aluminum scrap based on composition, shape, and size, creating high-purity fractions suitable for smelting. For instance, in March 2025, Tomra Systems ASA introduced GAINnext, an AI-enhanced sorting platform designed to work alongside its X-TRACT X-ray transmission technology. The solution enables faster and more accurate sorting of complex aluminum scrap streams and supports progress toward a more circular metals economy.

In August 2024, ABC Recycling Limited acquired Pacific Metals Recycling International to expand its processing capacity and strengthen its presence in the recycled metals market. The acquisition integrates Pacific Metals' scrap collection network and processing facilities into ABC Recycling's operations, enhancing its ability to serve customers across multiple regions. Pacific Metals specializes in processing a wide range of scrap metal materials.

Major companies operating in the recycled metal market report are ArcelorMittal S.A., Nucor Corporation, Commercial Metals Company, Sims Metal Management Limited, Aurubis AG, Novelis Inc., ELG Haniel Group, Kuusakoski Group Oy, Tata Steel Ltd., Steel Dynamics Inc., Norsk Hydro ASA, GFG Alliances, China Baowu Group, HKS Scrap Metals B.V., AMG Resources Corporation, European Metal Recycling, Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc., OmniSource Corporation, Alter Trading Corporation, Ferrous Processing & Trading Co., Metal Management Inc., Tube City IMS LLC, SA Recycling LLC, Upstate Shredding LLC, PSC Metals Inc., American Iron & Metal Company, Southern Recycling LLC, Gerdau S.A., Dowa Holdings Co. Ltd., Liberty Steel Group, Sims Limited

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the recycled metal market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the recycled metal market are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

The countries covered in the recycled metal market are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The recycled metal market consists of sales of recycled brass, lead, bronze, and others. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

Recycled Metal Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses recycled metal market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

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Where is the largest and fastest growing market for recycled metal ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The recycled metal market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. This section also examines key products and services offered in the market, evaluates brand-level differentiation, compares product features, and highlights major innovation and product development trends.
• The supply chain analysis section provides an overview of the entire value chain, including key raw materials, resources, and supplier analysis. It also provides a list competitor at each level of the supply chain.
• The updated trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it evolves and highlights emerging technology trends such as digital transformation, automation, sustainability initiatives, and AI-driven innovation. It suggests how companies can leverage these advancements to strengthen their market position and achieve competitive differentiation.
• The regulatory and investment landscape section provides an overview of the key regulatory frameworks, regularity bodies, associations, and government policies influencing the market. It also examines major investment flows, incentives, and funding trends shaping industry growth and innovation.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
• The total addressable market (TAM) analysis section defines and estimates the market potential compares it with the current market size, and provides strategic insights and growth opportunities based on this evaluation.
• The market attractiveness scoring section evaluates the market based on a quantitative scoring framework that considers growth potential, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and risk profile. It also provides interpretive insights and strategic implications for decision-makers.
• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• Expanded geographical coverage includes Taiwan and Southeast Asia, reflecting recent supply chain realignments and manufacturing shifts in the region. This section analyzes how these markets are becoming increasingly important hubs in the global value chain.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The company scoring matrix section evaluates and ranks leading companies based on a multi-parameter framework that includes market share or revenues, product innovation, and brand recognition.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Product: Steel; Aluminum; Copper; Other Products
• 2) By Metal: Ferrous; Non-Ferrous; Precious Metals
• 3) By End-User: Construction; Transport And Automotive; Industrial Machinery; Electronics; Defense; Packaging; Military; Consumer Goods; Other End-Users
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Steel: Recycled Steel Scraps; Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) Steel
• 2) By Aluminum: Aluminum Cans; Aluminum Extrusions; Aluminum Alloys
• 3) By Copper: Copper Wire; Copper Tubing; Copper Sheet
• 4) By Other Products: Zinc; Lead; Nickel; Specialty Alloys
• Companies Mentioned: ArcelorMittal S.A.; Nucor Corporation; Commercial Metals Company; Sims Metal Management Limited; Aurubis AG; Novelis Inc.; ELG Haniel Group; Kuusakoski Group Oy; Tata Steel Ltd.; Steel Dynamics Inc.; Norsk Hydro ASA; GFG Alliances; China Baowu Group; HKS Scrap Metals B.V.; AMG Resources Corporation; European Metal Recycling; Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc.; OmniSource Corporation; Alter Trading Corporation; Ferrous Processing & Trading Co.; Metal Management Inc.; Tube City IMS LLC; SA Recycling LLC; Upstate Shredding LLC; PSC Metals Inc.; American Iron & Metal Company; Southern Recycling LLC; Gerdau S.A.; Dowa Holdings Co. Ltd.; Liberty Steel Group; Sims Limited
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain.
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; South East Asia; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
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