Market Data
December 9, 2025
US scrap tags increase in December
Written by Ethan Bernard
US ferrous scrap prices have picked up in December, sources told SMU.
SMU’s December scrap pricing stands at:
- Busheling at $385-$415 per gross ton (gt), averaging $400/gt, up $10 per gross ton (gt) from November.
- Shredded at $380-$400/gt, averaging $390/gt, up $20 from November.
- HMS at $335-$365/gt, averaging $350/gt, up $20 from November.
“Once one Southern mill came out on Wednesday last week announcing they were paying up $20 for shredded and cut grades, the market began setting into that pattern more broadly,” one source told SMU.
He noted there was some argument about raising all cut grades $20, but as the week closed out, he did not see any shredded or cut grade increases of less than $20/gt.
Another source said the Ohio Valley followed the general market with up $20 on obsoletes and up $10 on primes.
The first source said the spread between shredded and prime grades remains very narrow at only about $20/gt, with busheling higher than shred by that amount.
Additionally, he said these price moves higher are mainly seasonal.
“Demand remains pretty static, but supply tightened over the course of November, and expectations are for that to continue through December,” the source added.
On the export front, he said rising export prices were also supportive with those increases, totaling about $20 over the last few weeks on strong Turkish scrap procurement for December and January.
“Looking forward, I expect another price increase come January, probably similar to what we just experienced in December,” the first source said.
The second source was slightly more bullish, stating that most believe there will be another $20-$30/gt bump in the market moving into January.
“Factors behind this opinion are seasonal, domestic vs. export prices, steel market optimism (pricing), and tight supply of feedstock, especially HMS,” he said.
