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This table presents detailed data on the quantities of iron and steel scrap held in consumer stocks across various U.S. regions and states as of December 31, 2023. The information is categorized by scrap type, including carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy steel, cast iron, and other scrap grades. These stock levels are critical indicators of the steel industry's supply chain health, reflecting the availability of recyclable raw materials for steel production. Monitoring these stocks helps industry stakeholders and policymakers assess market conditions, forecast production capabilities, and manage resource allocation efficiently, which in turn influences economic stability and industrial output.
Analysis of the data reveals that the South Central region holds the largest share of consumer stocks, totaling 2,970 thousand metric tons, with Texas alone accounting for 1,790 thousand metric tons of this total. The North Central region follows with 1,580 thousand metric tons, led by Ohio’s substantial 612 thousand metric tons. Carbon steel scrap dominates the inventory, comprising 4,500 thousand metric tons nationwide, underscoring its primary role in steel recycling. Stainless and alloy steel stocks are comparatively smaller, at 298 and 62 thousand metric tons respectively. Notably, the New England and Middle Atlantic region maintains the smallest stockpile, with only 375 thousand metric tons, indicating regional disparities in scrap availability. These figures highlight the concentration of scrap resources in key industrial hubs, which is essential for sustaining domestic steel production and supporting the circular economy.
| TABLE 7 | ||||||||||||||
| U.S. CONSUMER STOCKS OF IRON AND STEEL SCRAP, DECEMBER 31, 2023, BY REGION AND STATE1, 2 | ||||||||||||||
| (Thousand metric tons) | ||||||||||||||
| Scrap | ||||||||||||||
| Other | ||||||||||||||
| Carbon | Stainless | Alloy | Cast | grades of | Total | |||||||||
| Region and State | steel2 | steel | steel | iron3 | scrap | scrap | ||||||||
| New England and Middle Atlantic: | ||||||||||||||
| Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode | ||||||||||||||
| Island, Vermont | (3) | (3) | -- | -- | (3) | (3) | ||||||||
| New Jersey and New York | 84 | -- | -- | 3 | 2 | 100 | ||||||||
| Pennsylvania | 202 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 274 | ||||||||
| Total | 285 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 375 | ||||||||
| North Central: | ||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 105 | -- | -- | 1 | 3 | 124 | ||||||||
| Indiana | 400 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 483 | ||||||||
| Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska | 146 | (3) | 1 | 85 | 1 | 252 | ||||||||
| Michigan | 25 | (3) | 2 | 3 | 37 | 76 | ||||||||
| Minnesota and Wisconsin | 22 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 31 | ||||||||
| Ohio | 364 | 60 | 36 | 98 | (3) | 612 | ||||||||
| Total | 1060 | 66 | 45 | 198 | 49 | 1580 | ||||||||
| South Atlantic: | ||||||||||||||
| Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina | 433 | (3) | (3) | 7 | 22 | 524 | ||||||||
| Virginia and West Virginia | 93 | -- | -- | 11 | 6 | 123 | ||||||||
| Total | 526 | (3) | (3) | 19 | 28 | 647 | ||||||||
| South Central: | ||||||||||||||
| Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee | 538 | 207 | -- | 6 | 14 | 840 | ||||||||
| Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma | 290 | (3) | 1 | (3) | 11 | 342 | ||||||||
| Texas | 1550 | 7 | (3) | 17 | 8 | 1790 | ||||||||
| Total | 2370 | 214 | 1 | 23 | 33 | 2970 | ||||||||
| Mountain and Pacific: | ||||||||||||||
| Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah | 154 | (3) | 1 | 18 | (3) | 195 | ||||||||
| California, Oregon, Washington | 97 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 41 | 161 | ||||||||
| Total | 251 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 41 | 356 | ||||||||
| Grand total | 4500 | 298 | 62 | 271 | 157 | 5930 | ||||||||
-- Zero.
1Table includes data available through January 16, 2025. Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2Data are revised to reflect estimates of the total steel industry using surveyed reports.
3Less than ½ unit.
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Iron and Steel Scrap statistics | Mineral commodity prices