Stainless steel scrap exports from the United States: data, top buyers and prices
Exports of stainless steel scrap by the United States reached $580.1 million in 2024 (439.7 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 3rd largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 177 countries. That is 17% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
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Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $580.1M | 439.7K t |
| 2023 | $697.5M | 477.4K t |
| 2022 | $486.2M | 334.6K t |
| 2021 | $446.7M | 319.9K t |
| 2020 | $354.6M | 380.3K t |
| 2019 | $483.4M | 827.7K t |
| 2018 | $390.0M | 944.9K t |
| 2017 | $421.3M | 388.4K t |
Where the United States exports stainless steel scrap to
Most of it went to India (42%), Taiwan (13%), Netherlands (11%). Among the main buyer markets, Hong Kong grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | $243.6M | 42% |
| Taiwan | $74.6M | 13% |
| Netherlands | $66.4M | 12% |
| Canada | $42.0M | 7.2% |
| South Korea | $36.1M | 6.2% |
| Italy | $28.1M | 4.8% |
| Hong Kong | $22.9M | 4% |
| Spain | $14.1M | 2.4% |
| Pakistan | $8.4M | 1.4% |
| Belgium | $8.0M | 1.4% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.32 per kg, close to the world average of $1.41.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Stainless steel scrap imports to the United States
Imports of stainless steel scrap by the United States reached $261.5 million in 2024 (217.0 thousand tonnes). It ranks 9th of 128 countries for imports of this product. Canada alone supplied 56% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | $145.1M | 56% |
| Mexico | $107.8M | 41% |
| Brazil | $1.4M | 0.5% |
| Taiwan | $1.4M | 0.5% |
| Germany | $1.1M | 0.4% |
| Hong Kong | $711K | 0.3% |
| Colombia | $546K | 0.2% |
| Vietnam | $459K | 0.2% |
| Denmark | $360K | 0.1% |
| United Kingdom | $329K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States stainless steel scrap exports (HS 7204.21): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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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 7204.21: Ferrous waste and scrap: of stainless steel.
Common questions
What is the value of stainless steel scrap exported by the United States?
The United States exported stainless steel scrap worth $580.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 439.7 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 3rd of 177 countries worldwide, with 7% of world exports. The value was down 17% on 2023.
Which countries buy stainless steel scrap from the United States?
India was the largest buyer with 42% of the value ($243.6 million), followed by Taiwan (13%) and the Netherlands (11%). The top three together account for 66%, out of 66 buyer countries in total. Pakistan grew fastest among the top ten, up 72% on the year.
What is the average export price of stainless steel scrap per kg?
The average declared export value was about $1.32 per kg in 2024, 6% below the world average of $1.41 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have exports of stainless steel scrap from the United States changed since 2017?
Exports went from $421.3 million in 2017 to $580.1 million in 2024, an increase of 38%. The peak was 2023 at $697.5 million. Over 8 years the average was $482.5 million a year.
Does the United States also import stainless steel scrap?
Yes. The United States imported $261.5 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Canada, Mexico and Brazil. On balance the United States is a net exporter of this product, by about $318.6 million a year.
What is the HS code for stainless steel scrap?
The HS code for stainless steel scrap is subheading 7204.21. 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?
EximDataX has a direct customs feed for the United States, so the importers and exporters behind these totals are visible by name, shipment by shipment. Ask for a live look at your product.
Same product, other countries
World stainless steel scrap trade: top importers and exporters
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