Other ferrous scrap exports from the United States: data, top buyers and prices
Exports of other ferrous scrap by the United States reached $5.18 billion in 2024 (12.77 million tonnes). It ranks 1st of 197 countries for exports of this product. Value fell 10% from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $6.72 billion.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5.18B | 12.77M t |
| 2023 | $5.73B | 14.39M t |
| 2022 | $6.72B | 14.64M t |
| 2021 | $6.42B | 14.25M t |
| 2020 | $3.79B | 14.96M t |
| 2019 | $4.14B | 15.66M t |
| 2018 | $5.03B | 14.74M t |
| 2017 | $3.75B | 12.41M t |
Where the United States exports other ferrous scrap to
The largest buyer markets were Turkey (36%), Mexico (13%), Bangladesh (13%). Among the main buyer markets, Pakistan grew fastest (+95% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | $1.85B | 36% |
| Mexico | $654.4M | 13% |
| Bangladesh | $648.5M | 13% |
| India | $458.3M | 8.8% |
| Taiwan | $417.8M | 8.1% |
| Peru | $258.6M | 5% |
| Pakistan | $177.4M | 3.4% |
| Vietnam | $174.6M | 3.4% |
| Thailand | $153.7M | 3% |
| Canada | $103.8M | 2% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.41 per kg, close to the world average of $0.38.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Other ferrous scrap imports to the United States
The United States imported $660.7 million of other ferrous scrap in 2024 (1.83 million tonnes). Its share of world imports was 2%. One supplier dominates: Canada accounted for 83% of the value.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | $545.2M | 83% |
| Mexico | $51.3M | 7.8% |
| United Kingdom | $18.2M | 2.8% |
| Sweden | $14.0M | 2.1% |
| Netherlands | $13.4M | 2% |
| Poland | $13.3M | 2% |
| Barbados | $832K | 0.1% |
| Cayman Isds | $826K | 0.1% |
| Japan | $671K | 0.1% |
| Brazil | $412K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States other ferrous scrap exports (HS 7204.49): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 7204.49: Ferrous waste and scrap: n.e.c. in heading no. 7204.
Common questions
What is the value of other ferrous scrap exported by the United States?
The United States exported other ferrous scrap worth $5.18 billion in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 12.77 million tonnes. That ranks it 1st of 197 countries worldwide, with 18% of world exports. The value was down 10% on 2023.
Which countries buy other ferrous scrap from the United States?
Turkey was the largest buyer with 36% of the value ($1.85 billion), followed by Mexico (13%) and Bangladesh (13%). The top three together account for 61%, out of 60 buyer countries in total. Pakistan grew fastest among the top ten, up 95% on the year.
What is the average export price of other ferrous scrap per kg?
The average declared export value was about $0.41 per kg in 2024, 8% above the world average of $0.38 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have exports of other ferrous scrap from the United States changed since 2017?
Exports went from $3.75 billion in 2017 to $5.18 billion in 2024, an increase of 38%. The peak was 2022 at $6.72 billion. Over 8 years the average was $5.10 billion a year.
Does the United States also import other ferrous scrap?
Yes. The United States imported $660.7 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom. On balance the United States is a net exporter of this product, by about $4.52 billion a year.
What is the HS code for other ferrous scrap?
The HS code for other ferrous scrap is subheading 7204.49. It sits in HS chapter 72 (iron and steel). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7204 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
Shipment-level records for the United States reach EximDataX from a direct customs feed, with company names, dates and declared values. We can show them for your product on a short call.
Same product, other countries
World other ferrous scrap trade: top importers and exporters
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.