UK Ferrous Steel Scrap: How the Market Works in 2026
Steel scrap is traded in enormous volumes across the UK every day, yet it commands just £0.08–0.12/kg — a fraction of copper or aluminium. Here is how the UK ferrous market actually works.
Steel scrap is traded in enormous volumes across the UK every day — yet it commands just £0.08–0.12/kg at most domestic yards, a fraction of what copper or aluminium attracts.
Why Steel Is So Cheap
Steel is abundant. The UK has decades of industrial infrastructure that continuously generates steel scrap. Supply rarely falls short of demand for long.
How UK Ferrous Prices Are Set
**European steel demand:** Much UK scrap steel is exported to European electric arc furnaces. When European construction and manufacturing are active, demand rises.
**Shipping and transport costs:** Heavy steel is expensive to move. The gap between yard buying prices and export selling prices is largely made up of transport and loading costs at UK ports.
The UK Steel Grades
**Heavy steel (HMS 1):** Clean, thick plate and structural sections over 6mm. Best per-tonne ferrous rate.
**Light iron:** Sheet metal, pressed components, thinner steel under 6mm. Significantly lower rate.
For Domestic Sellers
If you are selling a small amount of steel — from a garden clearance or a building project — the low per-kg price means steel is rarely worth transporting far. Focus on non-ferrous metals like copper and aluminium for the best return on effort.