In February 2024, scrap metal buyback prices showed variations of over 40% depending on the region and type of metal processed. Agreements between recyclers and industrials sometimes set prices that are out of sync with international rates, creating unusual disparities in the French market.
Some foundries now refuse lots of less than a ton, a practice that was previously rare, while new players are buying directly from individuals at prices higher than those offered to professionals. These developments reflect unprecedented tensions and highlight the persistent instability of prices in 2024.
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What are the prices of scrap metal and key metals in 2024?
Variations that can sometimes be dizzying: at the beginning of the year, metal volatility reaches a rarely observed peak. Scrap, steel, aluminum… the slightest rumor from the international scene can cause prices to soar or plummet within days. As a result, on the ground, the ton of scrap does not have a fixed price. Buyers, whether in Paris or in major industrial areas, juggle constantly shifting benchmarks, influenced by global markets and the dollar.
Copper, often seen as a thermometer for the industry, remains high but also experiences sudden drops, especially when growth in Asia slows down. For several years, the trend has been confirmed: the scrap price is inseparable from the markets for ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Stainless steel is no exception: its prices closely follow the fluctuations of nickel, while lots of alloys rich in copper or aluminum are evaluated meticulously, depending on their origin and cleanliness.
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To better understand how scrap prices and buyback rates are evolving, one must rely on constantly updated data. Export shipments, local availability, but also the quality of collected metals weigh heavily in the balance. Some sorting centers now impose minimum volumes to obtain the best conditions: knowing how to sort, store, and negotiate becomes a decisive asset to make the most of metal waste. The page “Scrap prices: scrap buyback rates – Beynat” serves as a useful barometer to anticipate upcoming movements, at a time when the recycling sector is rapidly reinventing itself.
What factors explain the current variations in buyback rates?
Behind each price variation lies a complex mechanism: regulation, global markets, technical innovations… Everything is intertwined. To start, the state imposes a precise framework. A tariff decree defines the amounts, adjusted quarterly via the S21 mechanism. The balance is struck between new installations and the ambitions set by the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
Technical aspects weigh just as heavily. For installations up to 9 kWc, a self-consumption bonus is paid in one go; from October 1, 2025, VAT will drop to 5.5%. For higher powers, passing through the simplified call for tenders (AOS) is mandatory, under the supervision of the CRE. Projects exceeding 100 kWc must also justify a carbon balance, a new criterion that reshuffles the market cards.
At the same time, the international dynamics of industrial metals impose their logic. The purchase price of electrical copper, aluminum, or brass depends on global rates, and the energy transition intensifies movements: demand explodes, prices follow. Additionally, there are provisions for landscape integration, the RGE label for installers, and the announced reduction of the threshold for the open window to 200 kWc starting in 2026.
Here are the main elements that cause variations in buyback rates:
- Regulation: tariff decree, quarterly re-evaluations, power criteria
- Global market: metal prices, pressure on variable purchase prices
- Energy transition: environmental requirements, carbon balance, support for self-consumption
Evolution prospects: what to expect for the scrap metal market until 2026?
The scrap metal sector is entering a transition period. Starting in 2026, the threshold for the open window at 200 kWc will be lowered, changing the game for many professionals. Small producers, driven by the demand for recycled metals, will find it easier to access support mechanisms. Large power installations, on the other hand, will have to navigate the simplified call for tenders under increased scrutiny.
The buyback rates are evolving concretely: between October 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026, the self-consumption bonus rises to €0.08/Wc for installations up to 9 kWc (or €720 for 9 kWc). The surplus rate remains at €0.04/kWh. For powers from 9 to 36 kWc, the bonus increases to €0.16/Wc, and the surplus reaches €0.0617/kWh. Above 100 kWc, only the simplified call for tenders defines the remuneration.
The European NZIA regulation complicates matters: it imposes stricter carbon balance criteria starting in 2026, which will directly affect the valuation of metal waste. The evolution of the sector will also depend on international appetite, particularly from China, a major consumer of raw materials. Uncertainty over nickel, aluminum, or copper prices could exacerbate market fragmentation. More than ever, specialization and the quality of collected lots will make the difference. Everyone is seeking their place in a sector where every ton negotiated can reshape market balance, and where agility becomes the best weapon to move forward.