Non-Ferrous Scrap Recycling Global Market Report 2025

The non-ferrous scrap recycling market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $75.8 billion in 2024 to $81.12 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%. Growth during the historic period can be attributed to rising metal recovery operations, expansion of recycling infrastructure, increasing trade of scrap materials, greater industrial reuse of non-ferrous metals, and growing investment in scrap collection networks.

The non-ferrous scrap recycling market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $104.97 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7%. Growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing adoption of circular economy practices, growing government incentives for recycling, rising integration of automation in sorting processes, expanding cross-border recycling collaborations, and increasing use of recycled metals in green manufacturing. Major trends expected in the forecast period include the development of AI-enabled recycling platforms, innovations in data-driven scrap management, advancements in sensor-based quality monitoring, research into eco-efficient refining methods, and technological integration to enable traceable recycling chains.

The rising prices of virgin metals are expected to drive the growth of the non-ferrous scrap recycling market. Virgin metals refer to newly mined or primary metals that have not been processed, refined, or recycled, such as aluminum, copper, tin, and other non-ferrous materials. The surge in prices for virgin metals is largely due to supply constraints caused by trade restrictions, export bans, and production disruptions in key producing countries, coupled with increasing demand for metals used in industrial and clean-energy applications. Non-ferrous scrap recycling offers a solution to rising metal prices by reducing dependence on the extraction of virgin metals, ensuring a more stable and cost-effective supply of raw materials, and mitigating market volatility caused by resource scarcity. For example, in May 2024, the World Bank reported that its metals and minerals price index rose by 9% month-on-month, with copper, tin, and aluminum prices expected to increase by 5%, 4%, and 2%, respectively. This indicates ongoing upward pressure on the costs of virgin metals, thus fueling growth in the non-ferrous scrap recycling market.

Leading companies in the non-ferrous scrap recycling market are focusing on innovations in advanced sorting technologies, such as AI-powered color sorting with object-level singulation, to improve purity and recovery rates in mixed metal recycling streams. AI-powered color sorting uses artificial intelligence and precision RGB imaging to identify and separate individual metal fragments, even when they are overlapping or visually similar, based on their color, shape, and size. For instance, in September 2025, TOMRA Recycling, a Norway-based provider of sensor-based sorting solutions, launched its FINDER COLOR system. This next-generation system combines a highly precise RGB camera with AI algorithms to process up to 20 tons per hour and deliver exceptional accuracy across a range of non-ferrous materials. Integrated with TOMRA’s X-TRACT and cloud-based TOMRA Insight, FINDER COLOR improves data-driven efficiency, adaptability, and sustainability in color-based metal sorting.

In March 2023, Sims Metal, a U.S.-based metal recycling provider, acquired Northeast Metal Traders for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition is part of Sims Metal’s strategy to expand its non-ferrous metal business in North America, increase copper recycling volumes, and strengthen its position in the growing copper scrap market, which is driven by trends in energy transition and decarbonization. Northeast Metal Traders is a U.S.-based processor and broker specializing in non-ferrous scrap metal recycling.

Major companies operating in the non-ferrous scrap recycling market are Glencore plc, Toyota Tsusho America Inc., Rio Tinto Group, Nucor Corporation, Hindalco Industries Limited, Umicore SA/NV, Steel Dynamics Inc., Aurubis AG, Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, Commercial Metals Company, Boliden AB, Dowa Holdings Co. Ltd., Trafigura Group Pte. Ltd., Sims Limited, Chiho Environmental Group Limited, Alter Trading Corporation, European Metal Recycling Limited (EMR), Harsco Corporation, Remondis SE & Co. KG, Matalco Inc., Campine NV, GMH Gruppe GmbH & Co. KG, BL Duke Inc., Triple M Metal LP, ABR Recycling Kft.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the non-ferrous scrap recycling market in 2024. North America is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in non-ferrous scrap recycling report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the non-ferrous scrap recycling market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The steep increase in U.S. tariffs and the triggered trade tensions in spring 2025 are profoundly impacting the metal and minerals sector by disrupting supply chains for automakers, appliance manufacturers, and infrastructure projects. Domestic mills have raised prices in response to reduced import competition, but capacity constraints limit their ability to meet demand. Mining firms, meanwhile, grapple with retaliatory tariffs on mineral exports, particularly lithium and rare earths. Industry players are investing in scrap metal recycling, lobbying for exemptions, and forming joint ventures with overseas producers to secure stable supply.

The non-ferrous scrap recycling market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides non-ferrous scrap recycling market statistics, including the non-ferrous scrap recycling industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the non-ferrous scrap recycling market share, detailed non-ferrous scrap recycling market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the non-ferrous scrap recycling industry. This non-ferrous scrap 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.

Non-ferrous scrap recycling is the process of collecting, processing, and reusing metals that do not contain significant amounts of iron. This includes materials such as aluminum, copper, brass, lead, and zinc, which can retain their properties even after multiple recycling cycles. The process helps conserve natural resources, reduce energy consumption, and minimize environmental impact compared to producing metals from raw materials.

The key material types involved in non-ferrous scrap recycling include aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc. Aluminum is a lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and highly versatile non-ferrous metal widely used in industries such as transportation, construction, and packaging due to its strength-to-weight ratio and recyclability. It is recycled from sources such as industrial scrap, post-consumer scrap, construction and demolition scrap, aerospace scrap, automotive scrap, and electrical scrap. Recycling methods include mechanical recycling, pyrometallurgical recycling, hydrometallurgical recycling, bioleaching, and others. Key end-use industries include automotive, construction, electronics and electrical, industrial machinery, and more.

The non-ferrous scrap recycling market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as collection, segregation, processing, shredding, melting, refining, and trading of non-ferrous metal scrap. 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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