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    September 11, 2025

    Scrap market chatter in September

    Written by Ethan Bernard

    Every month, SMU polls participants in the ferrous scrap market on a variety of topics. These include things like prices, business conditions, tariffs, among many others.

    Note that these responses came in ahead of the September settle of the market. So where did survey participants see prime scrap prices heading this month? Well, 51% thought they would land sideways, and 43% thought they would be down. With prime grades down $20 and other grades sideways, that forecast proved to be spot on.

    Ethan Bernard

    Ethan Bernard is managing editor for Steel Market Update. He previously worked for American Metal Market as a copy editor in the New York office for two years, starting in 2008. Later, he copy edited AMM’s monthly magazine on a freelance basis from 2015 until 2017. With experience in financial copywriting and textbook publishing, he holds a BA in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, and an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University. He can be reached at ethan@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7871.

    Read more from Ethan Bernard

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