What is the difference between ferrous and non-ferrous scrap?

Ferrous scrap contains iron and is magnetic; non-ferrous scrap does not contain iron and includes metals like copper, aluminium, and brass. Ferrous moves in high volume at lower value and feeds steel mills, while non-ferrous moves in smaller quantities at higher value and feeds smelters.

Do you handle industrial scrap from manufacturers?

Yes. Industrial by-product — offcuts, turnings, obsolete equipment, and process residues — is a core part of the trade. We help US industrial generators find qualified export buyers and manage inspection, documentation, and shipping through to delivery.

Can you handle both families in one relationship?

Yes. We maintain buyer relationships across both steel mills and non-ferrous smelters and refiners, so a supplier with mixed streams can work with a single desk rather than splitting the material across multiple traders.

Metal & Scrap / Coordinatez Global Trade

Ferrous & Non-Ferrous Scrap

Name: Coordinatez Global Trade
Address: 8745 W. Higgins Road, Suite 110, Chicago, IL, 60631, US
Telephone: +1 (872) 258-2235

One desk for both scrap families — ferrous by volume, non-ferrous by value.

Discuss a requirement All trade capabilities

Almost all recyclable metal falls into one of two families, and the distinction shapes how it is priced, handled, and sold. Ferrous scrap contains iron and is magnetic; non-ferrous scrap does not contain iron and includes copper, aluminium, brass, lead, and more. Coordinatez trades and exports both from the United States, matching the right buyer to each stream.

The two families behave very differently in a trade. Ferrous scrap moves in high volume at lower value per tonne and feeds steel mills; non-ferrous scrap moves in smaller quantities at much higher value and feeds smelters and refiners. Knowing which buyer wants which material — and how each expects it graded and documented — is central to what we do.

Ferrous vs Non-Ferrous: The Practical Difference

The simplest test is a magnet: ferrous metal is attracted to it, non-ferrous is not. But the practical difference for trading is value density and destination. The distinction below explains how each family behaves in an export transaction.

Ferrous — iron-bearing, magnetic; high volume, lower per-tonne value; feeds steel mills
Non-ferrous — copper, aluminium, brass, lead; lower volume, higher value; feeds smelters and refiners
Non-ferrous grades demand tighter specification and inspection
Ferrous loads are managed for volume, packing, and consistent grade

Industrial Scrap

A large share of traded scrap originates as industrial by-product — offcuts, turnings, obsolete equipment, and process residues from manufacturing and construction. This material is often well-characterised and consistent, which makes it attractive to mills and smelters. We help US industrial generators find export buyers and handle the transaction end to end.

Who Buys What

Ferrous scrap goes to steel mills and foundries that need iron units for their furnaces. Non-ferrous scrap goes to smelters, refiners, and secondary producers that recover and re-alloy specific metals. We maintain relationships across both buyer types and match each stream to a counterparty that can use it, then coordinate inspection, documentation, and shipping.

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