⚙️ Steel & Iron Melting Scrap

The principal category of ferrous melting scrap, traded as HMS, shredded, and bushelling.

📅 Last Updated: May 2026

About Steel Melting Scrap

Steel and iron melting scrap is a widely traded category of melting scrap. Electric arc furnace mills, induction furnace operators, and foundries consume it as a principal feed for new steel production. The scrap that enters these furnaces becomes new reinforcing bar, structural sections, sheet, and tube for the construction, automotive, and engineering sectors.

The trade moves between countries under defined contracts and standards. Turkey is one of the steady inbound destinations, drawing material from sources including the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Vietnam are also active destinations.

The grading system most widely used in the trade is the one published by the Recycled Materials Association (formerly ISRI) in the United States. The system gives each kind of steel scrap a numbered or named identity. Commonly traded grades include HMS 1 and HMS 2 — heavy melting scrap of two cleanliness classes — together with shredded steel, busheling, bonus, and a number of finer subdivisions for specialty material.

Principal Grades

The principal grades of steel melting scrap, as defined in the ReMA specifications:

HMS 1 (Heavy Melting Scrap 1)

Wrought iron and/or steel scrap 1/4 inch and over in thickness. Individual pieces not over 60 × 24 inches, prepared in a manner to ensure compact charging. Free of motor blocks, burnt material, and other contamination.

HMS 2 (Heavy Melting Scrap 2)

Wrought iron and steel scrap, black and galvanised, 1/8 inch and over in thickness. Similar dimensional rules to HMS 1 but lower minimum thickness and includes light material.

Shredded Steel

Homogeneous iron and steel scrap, magnetically separated, from automobiles, miscellaneous baling, and sheet stock. Dense, uniform, and clean — among the most desirable feed for electric arc furnaces.

Busheling (Bushelling)

Clean steel scrap, not exceeding 12 × 18 inches in size and not less than 1/8 inch in thickness. Includes new factory bundles, stampings, clips, and similar uncoated material.

Bonus

Bundled new black steel sheet scrap, hydraulically compressed to a density of at least 75 pounds per cubic foot. Charging pieces no larger than 24 × 24 × 60 inches.

Plate & Structural Steel (P&S)

Cut structural and plate scrap, 5 feet and under in length. Cross-sections not less than 1/4 inch in thickness.

Cast Iron Scrap

Includes broken cast iron from machinery, stoves, drainpipe, and similar items. Free of stainless steel, manganese, and burnt material.

Cut Steel Pipe

Steel pipe cut to suitable lengths. Free of attachments, valves, and excessive corrosion.

Companies Active in Steel — By Country

Companies grouped by country. Each handles steel melting scrap among other categories.

🇮🇳 India (13)

Tata Steel Ltd

Mumbai • Integrated steel producer, publicly listed

🏷️ Steel · Stainless Steel

⚙️ Steel & Iron Melting Scrap

About Steel Melting Scrap

Principal Grades

Companies Active in Steel — By Country

🇮🇳 India (13)

🇺🇸 United States (24)

🇬🇧 United Kingdom (16)

🇨🇳 China (9)

🇩🇪 Germany (10)

🇯🇵 Japan (7)

🇰🇷 South Korea (9)

🇹🇷 Turkey (12)

🇻🇳 Vietnam (13)

🇲🇾 Malaysia (14)

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates (5)

🇮🇹 Italy (10)

🏛️ Global Trade Associations

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