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Scrap Metal Recycling in the US Industry Data and Analysis
Scrap metal recycling companies faced considerable volatility amid inflationary spikes, commodity price fluctuations and uneven client demand. Weakened demand and oversupply in world markets have pushed metal prices down in recent years, while elevated interest rates dampened many smaller construction and manufacturing clients' fiscal flexibility, as their procurement costs associated with scrap metals inclined. Global market shifts have also played an integral role in affecting scrap metal demand, as the proliferation of new technology in appliances, automotive machines and commercial office spaces requires easy-to-make, accessible and affordable scrap metals. Continuous demand for popular materials like copper, aluminum and steel drove higher interest in specialized scrap metal service providers, particularly among construction clients seeking to crack down on overhead expenditures for new projects. Growth of environmental sustainability awareness, as evident via California’s “Buy Recycled” program, enabled greater interest in scrap metal recycling to secure environmentally dangerous metals and transform them in a cost-efficient manner. Revenue grew at a CAGR of 3.4% to an estimated $38.0 billion over the past five years, including an anticipated 5.4% slip in 2025 alone, while profit is anticipated to stabilize at 4.8% in 2025.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released September 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States operates under the NAICS industry code OD5391. Scrap metal recycling facilities collect, process and recycle ferrous metals like iron and steel and nonferrous metals, including aluminum, copper and nickel. Recycling involves sorting, shearing, shredding, torching and baling scrap metal before selling it to downstream metal smelters for further processing. Related terms covered in the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States include nonferrous metal, ferrous metal and smelt.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States include Iron and steel scrap recycling, Aluminum scrap recycling and Copper scrap recycling.
What companies are included in this industry?
The Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States is highly fragmented with no companies holding a market share greater than 5%.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed product and service segmentation, analysis of major markets and international trade data for the for the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States in 2026?
The market size of the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States is $40.0bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States in 2025?
There are 508 businesses in the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.7 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States?
The Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States is likely to be impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States?
The Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States is likely to be significantly impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.
Has the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 4.5 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States is expected to grow.
What does the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States include?
Aluminum scrap recycling and Iron and steel scrap recycling are part of the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States.
How competitive is the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Scrap Metal Recycling industry in the United States.
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