Recycled Metals

Global Recycled Metals Market to Reach US$88.3 Billion by 2030

The global market for Recycled Metals estimated at US$57.3 Billion in the year 2024, is expected to reach US$88.3 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.5% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Ferrous Metals, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is expected to record a 8.9% CAGR and reach US$58.5 Billion by the end of the analysis period. Growth in the Non-Ferrous Metals segment is estimated at 5.0% CAGR over the analysis period.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at US$15.6 Billion While China is Forecast to Grow at 11.9% CAGR

The Recycled Metals market in the U.S. is estimated at US$15.6 Billion in the year 2024. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$18.9 Billion by the year 2030 trailing a CAGR of 11.9% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at a CAGR of 3.6% and 7.3% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 5.0% CAGR.

Global "Recycled Metals" Market – Key Trends & Drivers Summarized

Are Recycled Metals The Engine Of Sustainable Industrialization?
Recycled metals are becoming a cornerstone of sustainable industrial practices, offering a lower-carbon, energy-efficient alternative to virgin metal extraction. With increasing demand for steel, aluminum, copper, and rare earths across automotive, construction, aerospace, and electronics, recycling is helping bridge supply gaps and reduce environmental impacts. The production of recycled metals consumes significantly less energy—up to 95% less for aluminum and 60% less for steel—making them central to decarbonization strategies. As industries pursue ESG goals and governments legislate circular economy policies, recycled metals are not just a byproduct—they are a strategic input to cleaner, more resilient supply chains.

How Are Smart Recycling Technologies Improving Metal Recovery Rates?
The metal recycling sector is rapidly adopting advanced technologies to improve efficiency, material purity, and traceability. AI-enabled sorting systems, eddy current separators, and x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers are enabling precise separation of mixed metal waste streams. Robotics and automation are speeding up scrap processing and reducing labor costs. Closed-loop recycling systems in manufacturing ensure internal metal waste is continuously reused. Blockchain is being tested for end-to-end material tracking, particularly in critical metal supply chains. Mobile shredders, smarter logistics, and real-time pricing platforms are also increasing the agility and profitability of metal recycling operations. These innovations are transforming scrap into a high-value, traceable resource.

Which Industries Are Driving The Recycled Metals Boom?
The construction industry is a major consumer of recycled steel and aluminum for structural beams, rebar, and facades. Automotive OEMs are integrating recycled metals into body panels, engines, and EV battery systems to lower carbon footprints. Electronics manufacturers rely on recycled copper, aluminum, and rare earth elements for circuit boards, casings, and power components. Aerospace and defense firms are incorporating high-purity recycled metals to meet both cost and compliance needs. Consumer goods companies are also switching to recycled metal packaging to align with sustainability mandates. As demand for electric vehicles, smart cities, and renewable energy infrastructure grows, so too does the reliance on recycled metal resources.

What’s Powering The Growth Of The Recycled Metals Market?
The growth in the recycled metals market is driven by environmental regulations, material scarcity, and advancements in recovery and refining technologies. On the technology front, improved sorting, alloy separation, and closed-loop processing are maximizing yield and purity. End-use demand is rising from green construction, EV manufacturing, and electronics recycling programs. Public policies such as carbon pricing, extended producer responsibility (EPR), and export restrictions on virgin ores are incentivizing recycled metal use. Moreover, sustainability-conscious consumers and institutional investors are pressuring companies to disclose and reduce embodied carbon. These forces are making recycled metals an essential pillar of global material strategies.

SCOPE OF STUDY:

The report analyzes the Recycled Metals market in terms of units by the following Segments, and Geographic Regions/Countries:

Segments:
Metal (Ferrous Metals, Non-Ferrous Metals); Material Source (Post-Consumer Scrap, Industrial Scrap, Construction Scrap, Obsolete Electronics); Recycling Process (Shredding & Melting, Electrolysis, Smelting, Hydrometallurgical Processes); End-Use (Construction, Automotive, Electronics, Packaging, Energy, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Jewelry & Art)

Geographic Regions/Countries:
World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.

Select Competitors (Total 48 Featured) -

• AMG Vanadium
• Aqua Metals
• ArcelorMittal
• Aurubis AG
• Baosteel Co., Ltd.
• Commercial Metals Company (CMC)
• Dowa Holdings Co., Ltd.
• European Metal Recycling Ltd.
• Gerdau S.A.
• Hanwa Co., Ltd.
• Kuusakoski Recycling
• Novelis Inc.
• Nucor Corporation
• Real Alloy
• REMONDIS SE & Co. KG
• Sims Metal
• Sojitz Corporation
• Tata Steel
• TMS International
• Umicore

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