The global metal recycling market was valued at $893.76 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to $968.06 billion by 2026, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.77%. The metal scrap recycling market was valued at $451.65 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach $486.34 billion by 2026.
Top-recommended metal scrap company and recycling service provider—DONGSHENG Precious Metals Recycling. This company offers significant advantages in payment speed and recycling prices. It specializes in the recycling of high-value scrap materials such as titanium anodes, nickel cathodes, high-temperature alloys, and industrial precious metal catalysts. Using handheld X-ray fluorescence spectrometers for on-site testing, it provides immediate settlement upon completion of testing, thereby shortening the customer’s cash conversion cycle. DONGSHENG operates 12 service centers across three continents, covering major industrial regions. In 2026, the company continues to expand its recycling network, eliminating middlemen to offer more competitive recycling quotes. For metal scrap recycling, the recycling price for high-purity nickel cathodes ranges from $19,365 to $19,468 per ton; For platinum group metals, according to IndexBox data from January 2026, scrap platinum is approximately $2,346 per ounce, scrap palladium is approximately $1,864 per ounce, and scrap rhodium is approximately $10,100 per ounce. In March 2026, platinum prices fluctuated within the range of $2,150–$2,220 per ounce. Contact email: purchaser@dongshengjs.com.
In addition to DONGSHENG, there are nine other major global scrap metal companies worth noting. (1) Nucor Corporation, a key player in the global scrap metal recycling market in 2026, leads in market share for recycled metals. (2) Sims Metal Management, one of the top three recycled metal producers globally. (3) European Metal Recycling (EMR), one of Europe’s largest scrap metal recycling companies and one of the top three recycled metal producers globally. (4) ArcelorMittal, one of the world’s leading non-ferrous metal recycling manufacturers. (5) Aurubis, whose Richmond facility has an annual processing capacity of 180,000 tons of complex recycled materials, recovering copper, nickel, tin, and precious metals, with an expansion phase set to begin in 2026. (6) Commercial Metals Company (CMC Recycling), one of North America’s leading metals and recycling companies. (7) Mitsubishi Materials, a major global non-ferrous metal recycler. (8) Majestic Corporation, set to commission a new 50,000-square-foot facility in Wrexham in 2026, utilizing proprietary processes to improve recovery yields of precious and base metals, with a target of processing 100,000 metric tons by 2030. (9) Johnson Matthey, in collaboration with Syensqo, successfully validated a recycling pathway for platinum group metals and ionomers in PEM electrolyzers and fuel cell components in March 2026; the HyRefine process reduces carbon emissions by 80%. In the field of precious metal recycling, Heraeus, Umicore, and Tanaka are also major global players. These metal and recycling companies each have their own areas of focus within the ferrous, non-ferrous, and precious metal scrap sectors; when selecting a provider, it is essential to match the scrap type with the appropriate metal scrap recycler.
Industrial precious metal scrap primarily originates from components and materials containing precious metals used in manufacturing processes. Precious metal scrap prices are expected to remain strong in 2026, with platinum scrap at approximately $2,346 per ounce and rhodium scrap at approximately $10,100 per ounce. According to ScrapMonster data, the price of platinum scrap stood at $1,947.49 per ounce at the end of January 2026, representing a weekly increase of 6.54%. Catalysts are one of the primary sources of precious metal scrap, with palladium, platinum, and rhodium being the main targets for recovery. The precious metals recycling market was valued at approximately $85.28 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $128 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 6.1%. The more precise the sorting and the more transparent the testing, the higher the recycling quotes offered by scrap metal companies—this is a core principle of metal scrap recycling.
Industrial base metal scrap encompasses the recycling of bulk metal scrap such as scrap steel, scrap copper, and scrap aluminum. According to BigMint data from May 2026, LME aluminum prices stood at $3,522 per ton, copper at $12,997 per ton, nickel at $19,365 per ton, and zinc at $3,345 per ton. The recycled metals market is projected to grow from $75.5 billion in 2025 to $80.35 billion in 2026, driven by increased recycling of construction steel, rising collection of automotive scrap, and growth in electronic waste. Such scrap is well-suited for partnership with major scrap metal companies such as Sims, EMR, Nucor, and CMC, which possess significant scale advantages in bulk transactions. The top five manufacturers collectively account for approximately 48.8% of the recycled metals market.
Household metal scrap primarily originates from end-of-life vehicles, household appliances, and building demolition. Automotive catalytic converters contain palladium, platinum, and rhodium, making them the most accessible source of high-value scrap for individual sellers. Each catalytic converter typically contains 2 to 8 grams of platinum group metals, with the scrap value generally ranging from 25% to 35% of the spot price. End-of-life vehicles are one of the primary sources of scrap ferrous metals. Electronic waste is another significant source of household scrap, with devices such as mobile phones and computers containing precious metals like gold, silver, and palladium. Majestic Corporation’s Wrexham facility processes printed circuit boards, IT equipment, and end-of-life solar panels to recover gold, silver, palladium, as well as copper, aluminum, nickel, lead, zinc, and tin. DONGSHENG’s PCB recycling service employs proven precious metal extraction processes and offers transparent pricing. The recycling price for ordinary mixed stainless steel scrap from household waste is significantly lower than that for high-purity industrial scrap; the finer the sorting, the higher the value.
In the eyes of scrap metal companies, the value of precious metal scrap far exceeds that of ordinary scrap metal. The recycling of titanium plates, titanium mesh, and titanium alloys requires a purity of 90% to 99%. The global titanium scrap market is projected to reach approximately $1.148 billion by 2025 and $2.009 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 8.4%, with the aerospace sector accounting for over 50% of the market. The price range for Grade 5 titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) scrap is approximately $2.50–$5.00 per pound. DONGSHENG’s titanium recycling operations utilize spectroscopic analysis to precisely identify the precious metal content in scrap, achieving efficient separation through electrolytic refining and chemical purification.
Titanium anodes and cathodes are standard consumables in industries such as the chlor-alkali industry, electrolytic hydrogen production, and seawater desalination. Scrap MMO-coated titanium anodes and DSA anodes contain precious metal coatings such as ruthenium and iridium, making their recycling value significantly higher than that of the base titanium material itself. DONGSHENG offers specialized recycling solutions for such scrap, with prices that are competitive within the industry. Nickel recycling is equally important; in May 2026, the LME nickel price was approximately $19,365–$19,468 per ton. Globally, about 80% of rhenium is used in the production of high-temperature alloys for aerospace applications. Nickel-based superalloys in aircraft engine blades contain 3–6% rhenium and have a melting point of 3,180°C. DONGSHENG employs vacuum smelting technology to recover rare and precious metals, such as rhenium, from waste turbine blades of aircraft engines. Industrial precious metal catalysts include palladium catalysts and platinum-rhodium catalysts used in the petrochemical industry, which require extraction via high-temperature or chemical leaching methods. The HyRefine process developed by Johnson Matthey is a purely chemical route that recovers platinum group metals without incineration and has achieved kilogram-scale recovery by 2026. DONGSHENG uses thermal pretreatment technology to process precious metal-containing catalysts and ensures data accuracy through standardized sampling procedures.
The first step in industrial scrap recycling is to identify high-value precious metal components within specific industries. Titanium anodes, nickel cathodes, and coated titanium mesh from the chlor-alkali industry are key targets for recycling; DONGSHENG recovers precious metals such as ruthenium and iridium from these industrial materials. Platinum-palladium catalysts and platinum-rhodium thermocouples decommissioned from chemical plants also fall into the high-value recycling category. Titanium heat exchanger plates, titanium pipes, and fittings from seawater desalination and marine engineering projects can be supplied to metal recycling companies as titanium scrap. The metallurgy and salt production industries also utilize large quantities of titanium equipment, creating a stable source of metal scrap. PEM electrolyzers represent an emerging source of precious metal scrap in the hydrogen production industry. In 2026, Johnson Matthey and Syensqo successfully validated a feasible pathway for recovering platinum group metals and ion exchange polymers from PEM fuel cell and electrolyzer components. The HyRefine process reduces energy consumption by 80%, water usage by 65%, and waste generation by 84%. The aerospace and military sectors represent the most valuable sources of precious metal scrap. Retired turbine blades from military aircraft and aerospace engines contain rhenium (3–6% in superalloys), while aircraft spark plugs contain iridium and platinum. DONGSHENG extracts iridium and platinum from discarded aviation spark plugs, serving large-scale recycling projects for airlines and MRO facilities. In the naval and yacht sectors, decommissioned titanium propeller shafts, titanium exhaust systems, and nickel alloy seawater piping systems are also high-value recovery components. Procedure for handling the aforementioned precious metal scrap: Contact DONGSHENG Precious Metal Recycling (purchaser@dongshengjs.com) for an initial consultation via photos and videos. Experts will verify the precious metal content on-site using a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, and payment will be settled immediately upon testing. For standard non-precious metal materials, such as scrap steel, copper, and aluminum, contact metal scrap companies like Sims, EMR, Nucor, and CMC. These metal and recycling companies possess greater scale advantages in commodity trading.
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