Steel scrap in 2026: rising prices, increased collection in the EU, and the new relationship between cost and carbon
The steel scrap market has started 2026 with a clearly bullish trend. According to the latest IndexBox analysis, prices in the EU have recorded significant increases in the first weeks of the year, driven by supply constraints, seasonal factors, and active demand after the winter period.
At the same time, GMK Center points out that the European Union could increase collection by approximately 8 million tons this year, reinforcing its commitment to self-sufficiency and the internal supply of secondary raw materials.
But the real challenge is not just the volume; it’s the relationship between cost and carbon.
The rise in steel scrap prices is leading many plants to reconsider their sourcing strategy and increase the use of virgin raw materials, seeking stability or immediate savings. And this decision brings two clear problems:
- Virgin materials have a higher carbon footprint
- The new European regulations increasingly penalize carbon intensity in materials (higher CBAM)
Therefore, the issue is no longer choosing between scrap or virgin material, but combining them intelligently, optimizing both cost and carbon footprint while maintaining alloy stability.
In this context, solutions like ALEA Software come into play.
Using AI methods for scrap classification, we can identify compositions with greater precision, working with real-time, updated information. At the same time, this translates into:
- Automatic load calculation and adjustments at minimal cost
- Stock reduction
- Scenario simulation minimizing both cost per ton and carbon emissions
- Use of lower-cost scrap that would previously destabilize loads
In an environment where CBAM starts to have a direct economic impact, every reduction in carbon footprint counts, so the key is no longer just buying better.
It’s producing with intelligence and continuous optimization.
2026 will be the year when plants integrating automation and carbon control into their strategy will make the difference
