Processed Nonferrous Metal Market Report 2026

The processed nonferrous metal market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $1.56 trillion in 2025 to $1.61 trillion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in automotive nonferrous components, rising demand in electronic power equipment, increasing use in construction industry, expansion of rolled and extruded copper products, development of advanced nonferrous alloys.

The processed nonferrous metal market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.88 trillion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing adoption in electric vehicles, rising demand for lightweight conductive metals, growth in renewable energy infrastructure, expansion in electronics and power systems, development of sustainable recycling processes for nonferrous metals. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing production of smelted and refined nonferrous metals, rising use of rolled, extruded, and alloyed copper products, growing implementation of rolled and extruded nonferrous metals, increasing adoption of secondary smelted and recycled nonferrous metals, rising focus on high-purity nonferrous metal products.

Rapid urban population growth is expected to increase demand for the processed nonferrous metal market over the forecast period. As more people move into cities, the need for new housing, infrastructure, and transportation systems rises to accommodate expanding populations. Processed nonferrous metals play a vital role in these developments, being widely used in wiring, plumbing, roofing, and structural components. For example, in June 2024, the United Nations reported that about 45% of the world’s 8.2 billion people lived in urban areas, and the proportion of urban residents is projected to grow significantly by 2050. Therefore, expanding urban populations are helping drive demand for processed nonferrous metals.

Companies in this market are increasingly adopting additive manufacturing technologies to produce a variety of metal products. Additive manufacturing has rapidly evolved from a prototyping tool into a full-scale production method. Increased investment in metal AM technologies is driving improvements in efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs across related industries. For instance, in March 2023, a report from Nanjixiong noted that venture capital firms invested $930 million in additive manufacturing startups in China in 2022, with approximately 40% - or $370 million - directed toward metal AM companies.

In January 2025, Venture Metals LLC acquired Thalheimer Bros. LLC and Mega Metals LLC to strengthen its capabilities in processed nonferrous metals. The acquisition integrates expertise in recycling copper, brass, stainless steel, and titanium, expanding Venture Metals’ processing capacity and geographic reach while enhancing its ability to serve industries such as utilities, aerospace, construction, and industrial manufacturing. Both acquired companies specialize in advanced recycling and processing of nonferrous metals.

Major companies operating in the processed nonferrous metal market report are Vedanta Resources Limited, Glencore International AG, First Quantum Minerals Ltd., Freeport McMoRan Inc., BHP Group Limited, Teck Resources Limited, Lundin Mining Corporation, Boliden AB, Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd., Vale S.A., Anglo American plc, Aurubis AG, Korea Zinc Co. Ltd., Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co. Ltd., Hindustan Zinc Limited, Southern Copper Corporation, MMG Limited, Kaz Minerals, Antofagasta plc, Imperial Metals Corporation, Trafigura Group Pte Ltd.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the processed nonferrous metal market in 2025. Western Europe was the second-largest region in the processed nonferrous metal market. The regions covered in the processed nonferrous metal market are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the processed nonferrous metal market are China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Turkey, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa.

The processed nonferrous metal market consists of sales of lithium, copper, lead, tin, titanium, and zinc. 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.

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