Ferrous Metal Recycling Global Market Report 2025

The ferrous metal recycling market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $229.92 billion in 2024 to $245.04 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to the rising demand for steel in the construction and automotive industries, increasing environmental awareness and sustainability efforts, higher costs associated with extracting and processing raw iron ore, stronger government regulations and policies promoting recycling, and escalating landfill disposal costs for metal waste.

The ferrous metal recycling market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $311.85 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2%. The projected growth in the forecast period can be linked to increased investments in advanced recycling technologies, rising demand for lightweight and high-strength materials, a growing emphasis on reducing carbon footprints, evolving trade policies that support the use of recycled materials, and an increasing focus on building sustainable supply chains. Key trends expected during this period include advancements in automated sorting systems, the development of circular economy models, integration of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, innovations in chemical recycling methods, and new techniques for alloy recovery.

The growing adoption of electric vehicles is anticipated to drive the expansion of the ferrous metal recycling market. Electric vehicles (EVs) are powered wholly or partially by electricity stored in rechargeable batteries, as opposed to internal combustion engines that rely on fossil fuels. Their increasing adoption is largely driven by environmental concerns, as EVs emit no tailpipe emissions and contribute to reduced air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Ferrous metal recycling supports the production and sustainability of electric vehicles by providing essential materials and minimizing environmental impact. Recycled metals offer sustainable and cost-effective raw materials that support circular economy practices in battery and vehicle manufacturing. For example, in April 2024, the International Energy Agency reported that global electric car sales in 2023 approached 14 million, representing 18% of total car sales, up from 14% in 2022. As a result, the growing popularity of electric vehicles is boosting the ferrous metal recycling market.

Companies in the ferrous metal recycling market are increasingly entering into strategic partnerships to drive innovation in recycling technologies and extend their global presence. These partnerships promote growth by enabling resource sharing, expanding market access, encouraging the development of efficient recycling processes, improving supply chain coordination, and offering better access to new markets and regulatory frameworks. In August 2022, for example, Nupur Recyclers Limited, an India-based metal processing and recycling firm, partnered with HeiTec Rohstoffe GMBH, a Germany-based company specializing in ferrous metal recycling. The collaboration is aimed at enhancing operational capabilities and global outreach by applying advanced technologies and sustainable practices to meet the rising demand for recycled ferrous materials and optimize supply chains across regions.

In February 2022, ArcelorMittal S.A., a steel manufacturing company headquartered in Luxembourg, acquired Riwald Recycling for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition was intended to bolster ArcelorMittal’s metal recycling operations, decrease carbon emissions in steel production, and further the company’s sustainability and circular economy objectives. Riwald Recycling Beverwijk B.V. is a Netherlands-based firm specializing in the recycling of ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

Major players in the ferrous metal recycling market are ArcelorMittal S.A., Nucor Corporation, Gerdau S.A., Commercial Metals Company, Sims Metal Management Limited, Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc., Alter Trading Corporation's, Real Alloy Holding LLC, PSC Metals LLC, American Iron And Metal Co (AIM), SA Recycling LLC, Metalico Inc., OmniSource LLC, David J. Joseph Co. (DJJ), Kuusakoski Oy, Upstate Shredding LLC, Sadoff Iron & Metal Company, Ferrous Processing And Trading Co. (FPT), AMG Resources Corporation, TSR Recycling GmbH And Co. KG.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the ferrous metal recycling market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in ferrous metal recycling report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.

The countries covered in the ferrous metal recycling market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Ferrous metal recycling involves the collection, processing, and reuse of iron-containing metals from discarded items or industrial scrap. This process helps conserve natural resources, reduce energy usage, and minimize environmental pollution by keeping scrap metal out of landfills and decreasing the demand for mining raw iron ore.

The primary types of ferrous metals in the ferrous metal recycling market include steel, cast iron, and alloys. Steel, an alloy mainly composed of iron and carbon, is recognized for its strength, durability, and versatility, making it widely applicable in construction, manufacturing, and engineering. Sources of scrap metal come from industrial scrap, post-consumer scrap, and scrap from construction and demolition activities. Recycling methods used include physical processing, chemical processing, and pyrometallurgical processing. These recycled metals are utilized across several end-use industries such as automotive, construction, manufacturing, and shipbuilding.

The ferrous metal recycling market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides ferrous metal recycling market statistics, including the ferrous metal recycling industry's global market size, regional shares, competitors with the ferrous metal recycling market share, detailed ferrous metal recycling market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the ferrous metal recycling market. This ferrous metal recycling market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The ferrous metal recycling market includes revenues earned by entities through collection and sorting services, processing and shredding, smelting and refining, scrap metal trading and brokerage, and logistics and transportation. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

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 and 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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