As SteelOrbis had anticipated, local German scrap prices have ranged from stable to higher by €10/mt in November, and BDSV data show that ex-warehouse scrap prices have slightly increased by €3.5-9.1/mt depending on the quality. Demand from consumers has been on the low side overall, but low purchase prices have been preventing scrap sellers from concluding sales at reduced levels, also because export markets have provided greater encouragement to scrap dealers to conclude sales.
Sentiments in the German steel industry are now divided between a weak economic situation and a stagnating GDP - unchanged on quarter-on-quarter basis in the third quarter - and positive expectations for the future, thanks to the special funds for the steel sector and the steel summit held in Germany on November 6.
The response to this dual situation is reflected in declining crude steel production in Germany (in October this year production fell by three percent year on year to 3.13 million mt and by 9.9 percent year on year to 28.51 million mt in the January-October period), as steel mills are consequently adjusting their production capacities.
At the same time, low purchase prices from mills have made scrap suppliers less willing to sell, leading consumers to raise their scrap prices in November by almost €10/mt. Export prices for HMS I/II 80:20 at ports in northern Germany, which had settled at €255-260/mt, represented a valid alternative sales option for local sub-collectors. Now, these prices have been reported at €260-265/mt, showing a slight improvement, which reflects the attempts to raise local prices in the German scrap market for December.
As reported by local sources, scrap consumers are entering the winter months well-stocked and have already secured supplies for December, fearing scrap shortages, even though at the moment scrap volumes available in the local German market are enough to cover scrap demand.
According to the latest data provided by Bundesvereinigung Deutscher Stahlrecycling-und Entsorgungsunternehmen e.V, in the first 20 days of November scrap prices slightly increased by €3.5-9.1/mt. On year-on-year basis, scrap prices fell by between €21.5/mt and €45.4/mt.
The prices are provided by Bundesvereinigung Deutscher Stahlrecycling-und Entsorgungsunternehmen e.V. and are average prices for domestic transactions across Germany in the first 20 days of the given month.
| Scrap grade | Price: November 2025 (€/mt) | Price: October 2025 (€/mt) | Price: November 2024 (€/mt) | M-o-m change (€/mt) | Y-o-y change (€/mt) |
| E1 - Old steel scrap | 229.4 | 220.3 | 262.9 | 9.1 | -33.5 |
| E2/E8 - New steel scrap | 272.0 | 268.5 | 308.7 | 3.5 | -36.7 |
| E3 - Heavy old steel scrap | 258.3 | 252.6 | 303.7 | 5.7 | -45.4 |
| E40 - Shredded scrap | 264.2 | 256.0 | 308.4 | 8.2 | -44.2 |
| E5M - Steel turnings | 229.8 | 224.8 | 251.3 | 5.0 | -21.5 |
Specifications:
E1 - Old steel scrap: thickness ≥ 4 mm, maximum dimensions 1.5 m x 0.5 m x 0.5 m
E2/E8 - New steel scrap: maximum dimensions 1.5 m x 0.5 m x 0.5 m
E3 - Heavy old steel scrap: thickness ≥ 6 mm, maximum dimensions 1.5 m x 0.5 m x 0.5 m
E40 - Shredded scrap: excluding incinerator steel scrap and collection scrap; density ≥ 1,1 mt/m3, Fe ≥ 92%
E5M - Turnings: excluding iron and automatic steel turnings
