Scrap Prices North America

Miller on scrap: 2023 in review

Written by Stephen Miller

December 20, 2023

As we look back at the scrap market for 2023, it basically followed its normal seasonal pattern. Most of the disruptive geopolitical events that riled ferrous raw materials occurred in 2022. So, with those things out of the way—or settling down at least for now—2023 resumed its normal pattern. Ferrous scrap rose in Q1 from the lower prices we saw in Q4’22. It peaked in April as scrap flows recovered from winter hibernation.

After April, prices started their slow and steady decline for the next six months, except for a brief rise for shredded in June. The price drop ended in October with prime scrap still falling and obsolescent grades trading sideways. After this, the market rose with emphasis on prime grades, largely due the automotive strike and increased mill demand after several outages in Q3 and Q4. Prices for imported pig iron bottomed in October, and this had a bullish effect on scrap prices, as prime grades rallied well over $120 per gross ton (gt).

Looking ahead to 2024        

The market for January appears to be firm to up. However, dealers and brokers seem to be split on their forecasts. SMU reached out to a long-time industry veteran, Ray Peterson of Memorial Resource Group. Peterson is wary of the bullish position for January. He said the extreme rise in #1 Busheling, which ranged from $60-100/gt, may be enough to force the market sideways. Obsolescent grades could rise since they did not receive the increases similar to busheling. He went on to say, “logistics have been a problem for scrap for a long time.” He noted many dealers have experienced trucking shortages. Some dealers are saying they have material but can’t get enough trucks to ship it to the mills. If this situation persists in January, both prime and obsolete grades could continue their ascent.

Others disagree the markets for January will be sideways. SMU spoke with a dealer/broker in the Chicago area. He said “the dealers smell blood in the water” after last month’s wild ride of busheling purchases. This source believes prime grades in the Chicago/Detroit districts will advance by $30/gt, with secondary grades advancing by $20. Dealers have seen hot-rolled coil (HRC) approaching the $1,100 per net ton (nt) mark, and they believe this gives room for scrap to rise. He said the operating rates are likely to increase, thereby creating a demand-pull market with a supply-push situation already in full swing.

SMU asked a steel mill executive what he sees ahead for the next month and Q1’24. He said his company is experiencing firmness in all ferrous raw materials. Looking ahead, the climate for steel sales is encouraging, with lower interest rates and the prospect of continuing economic growth.

Whatever does happen to the scrap market, it will wait until after the holidays. Our scrap radar will be up and humming then.

Stephen Miller

Stephen Miller started his career in the scrap metal industry in 1978 at Luria Brothers in Cleveland. Over the last 40+ years, he has worked in all capacities in the trading business. He has had positions in both domestic and international scrap trading. In addition to scrap, Miller was at the forefront of the pig iron trade and established a pig iron distribution company under the name of Ferrosource, Inc. Most recently, Miller has concentrated on the scrap export market and regularly does consulting for several companies in the industry.

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