The Global Nickel Scrap Market was valued at US$ 2.27 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$ 2.69 Billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.5% during the forecast period (2024–2030). This steady growth is primarily driven by the powerful global transition towards a circular economy, stringent environmental regulations promoting resource efficiency, and soaring demand for nickel in stainless steel and, critically, electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

As industries seek to reduce their carbon footprint and secure raw material supply chains, nickel scrap has become a strategic feedstock. The spotlight is now on the key recyclers and traders who are building the infrastructure to collect, process, and supply this vital secondary material. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Nickel Scrap Industry—a diverse mix of global metal giants, specialized recyclers, and trading powerhouses that are essential to the future of sustainable manufacturing.

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🔟 10. Jacomij Metals BV

Headquarters: Moerdijk, Netherlands
Key Offering: High-grade nickel and cobalt scrap, superalloy scrap

Jacomij Metals is a prominent European processor and trader of high-quality metal scrap, with a strong focus on nickel and cobalt-bearing materials. They specialize in materials sourced from the aerospace, chemical, and electronics industries, providing essential feedstock for alloy producers.

Sustainability & Strategic Focus:

• Advanced sorting and processing technologies for complex metal scrap
• Strong logistics network within the EU for secure material handling
• Focus on closing the loop for critical battery metals like nickel and cobalt

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9️⃣ 9. Yechiu Group

Headquarters: Taipei, Taiwan
Key Offering: Stainless steel scrap, nickel-bearing alloy scrap

Yechiu Group is a major player in the Asian non-ferrous metal recycling market. With operations spanning procurement, processing, and international trading, they are a key supplier of nickel-containing scrap to stainless steel mills across Asia, particularly in China and Southeast Asia.

Sustainability & Strategic Focus:

• Extensive collection network across industrial manufacturing hubs
• Strategic partnerships with downstream stainless steel producers
• Leveraging Asia’s rapid industrialization for scrap generation and consumption

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8️⃣ 8. Chiho Environmental Group

Headquarters: Hong Kong
Key Offering: End-of-life vehicle (ELV) recycling, mixed metal scrap

Chiho Environmental Group is one of the largest metal recyclers in Asia, specializing in the recycling of end-of-life vehicles and electronic waste. Their operations recover significant volumes of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including nickel from automotive components and electronics.

Sustainability & Strategic Focus:

• Pioneer in ELV and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) recycling systems
• Vertically integrated operations from collection to processed metal supply
• Contributing to China’s “urban mining” initiatives to reduce reliance on primary ore imports

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7️⃣ 7. Stena Metal International

Headquarters: Gothenburg, Sweden
Key Offering: Industrial and post-consumer metal scrap, nickel alloys

Part of the Stena Sphere, Stena Metal International is a leading Nordic recycler with a strong international presence. They process vast quantities of metal scrap, including nickel-containing grades from demolished industrial plants, ships, and manufacturing off-cuts.

Sustainability & Strategic Focus:

• Deep commitment to the circular economy with advanced Scandinavian recycling standards
• Strong logistical network for marine and land-based scrap collection
• Focus on traceability and quality assurance for premium scrap products

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Nickel Scrap Market – View in Detailed Research Report

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6️⃣ 6. Commercial Metals Company (CMC)

Headquarters: Irving, Texas, USA
Key Offering: Ferrous and non-ferrous scrap, processed nickel-bearing scrap

CMC is a vertically integrated steel manufacturer and metal recycler. Their recycling division, operating a vast network of yards, is a major source of scrap for their own electric arc furnace (EAF) steel mills and supplies nickel-bearing scrap to external consumers in the alloy industry.

Sustainability & Strategic Focus:

• Closed-loop recycling model within its own manufacturing operations
• One of North America’s largest recyclers, providing stable scrap supply
• Investments in shredding and sorting technology to improve metal recovery rates

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5️⃣ 5. Schnitzer Steel Industries

Headquarters: Portland, Oregon, USA
Key Offering: Recycled ferrous and non-ferrous metals, nickel/copper scrap

Schnitzer is a leading manufacturer and exporter of recycled metal products in North America. Through its Pick-N-Pull self-service auto parts and scrap recycling operations, it captures significant volumes of non-ferrous metals, including nickel from automotive catalysts and components.

Sustainability & Strategic Focus:

• Integrated auto recycling and metal processing creates efficient material flow
• Major exporter, connecting North American scrap to global markets, including Asia
• Public sustainability reporting with clear goals for reducing environmental impact

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4️⃣ 4. OmniSource Corporation

Headquarters: Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA
Key Offering: Full-range ferrous and non-ferrous scrap processing

A subsidiary of Steel Dynamics, Inc. (SDI), OmniSource is a premier scrap processing and distribution company. It supplies a significant portion of the scrap feedstock to SDI’s mills and is a key aggregator of nickel-bearing stainless steel and alloy scrap for the broader market.

Sustainability & Strategic Focus:

• Strategic advantage as a captive supplier to a major steel producer
• Extensive collection network across the Midwestern and Eastern United States
• Focus on technological upgrades in material recovery facilities (MRFs)

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3️⃣ 3. European Metal Recycling (EMR)

Headquarters: Manchester, United Kingdom
Key Offering: Global metal recycling, nickel alloy scrap, end-of-life product processing

EMR is one of the world’s largest metal recyclers, with operations across the UK, US, and Europe. They handle millions of tonnes of material annually, specializing in complex streams that yield high-value nickel from sources like electric motors, superalloys, and industrial machinery.

Sustainability & Strategic Focus:

• Global scale provides market intelligence and supply chain resilience
• Heavy investment in R&D for recovering critical metals from evolving waste streams (e.g., EV batteries)
• Leadership in developing standards for responsible and transparent recycling

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2️⃣ 2. Hanwa Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Osaka, Japan
Key Offering: Global trading of steel products, non-ferrous metals, and scrap

Hanwa is a Japanese trading house (sogo shosha) with immense influence in global commodity flows. Its non-ferrous metals division is a powerhouse in trading nickel scrap and other secondary materials, connecting suppliers worldwide with consumers in Japan, South Korea, and China.

Sustainability & Strategic Focus:

• Unparalleled market access and logistics network across Asia and the world
• Strategic investments in recycling companies and raw material assets
• Key role in securing secondary nickel for Asia’s massive stainless steel and battery industries

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1️⃣ 1. Sims Metal Management

Headquarters: New York, New York, USA / Melbourne, Australia
Key Offering: Global metal recycling, ferrous & non-ferrous scrap, battery recycling solutions

Sims Metal is the world’s largest listed metal recycler, operating on four continents. Its scale and technological capabilities make it the definitive leader in the nickel scrap market. The company processes everything from consumer scrap to large industrial bundles, extracting maximum value, including nickel units.

Sustainability & Strategic Focus:

• Global footprint with over 250 facilities ensures consistent supply and market reach
• Pioneering investments in advanced recycling technologies, including battery recycling through its subsidiary, Sims Lifecycle Services
• Public commitment to achieving net-zero emissions, making circularity core to its business model

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Nickel Scrap Market – View in Detailed Research Report

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🌍 Outlook: The Future of Nickel Supply Is Circular

The nickel scrap market is at an inflection point. While primary nickel mining continues to expand, the industry is increasingly recognizing secondary nickel as a strategic, low-carbon, and cost-effective feedstock essential for energy transition. The companies leading this charge are not just recyclers; they are critical material enablers for a greener industrial base.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

• EV Battery Recycling Scale-up: As first-generation EV batteries reach end-of-life, dedicated lithium-ion battery recycling will become a major new source of high-purity nickel sulfate, diverting material from traditional scrap streams.
• Policy-Driven Demand: Regulations like the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and battery passport requirements are creating powerful economic incentives for manufacturers to use recycled content.
• Technological Advancements in Sorting: Innovations in AI-powered sorting, sensor-based technologies, and hydrometallurgical processing are improving the recovery rates and purity of nickel from complex scrap streams.
• Supply Chain Resilience: Geopolitical tensions and export restrictions on primary ores are pushing major consuming nations to develop robust domestic recycling ecosystems for critical metals like nickel.

Get Full Report Here:
Nickel Scrap Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies profiled above are fundamental to this transformation. They are building the circular infrastructure that will ensure the stainless steel in our buildings and the batteries in our electric cars are produced from an increasingly sustainable and secure material base.