Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £8.3bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Metal prices dip and regain industry confidence
- Recovering global economic activity in 2020-21 pushed up commodity demand. Supply shortages sent metal prices soaring by 46.8%, according to the World Bank, driving up metal recyclers’ revenue in the year through 2021-22. Revenue grew again in 2022-23 after another price escalation.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Subdued economic conditions restrict short-term performance, but the future is more positive
- Rampant inflation and a subdued construction sector have negatively impacted the short-term performance of the scrap metal recycling industry due to decreased metal demand and price drops.
Biggest companies in the Scrap Metal Recycling in the UK
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (£m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
European Metal Recycling Ltd | 2,007.5 | |
Sims Group UK Ltd | 759.9 | |
ELG Metals UK Ltd | 147.9 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Iron and steel scrap recycling, Aluminium scrap recycling and Copper scrap recycling. Iron and steel scrap recycling is the largest segment of the Scrap Metal Recycling in the UK.
Trends and Insights
Iron and steel scrap prices prove volatile
- Iron and steel don't lose chemical or physical properties when recycled, so there’s no limit to how many times they can go through the recycling process.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in this industry collect, process and recycle ferrous metals (like iron and steel) and non-ferrous metals (like aluminium, copper and nickel). Industry products are typically sold to metal smelters for further processing.
What's included in this industry?
Iron and steel scrap recyclingAluminium scrap recyclingCopper scrap recyclingLead scrap recyclingNon-ferrous scrap metalsCompanies
European Metal Recycling LtdSims Group UK LtdELG Metals UK LtdPurchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
FERROUSNON-FERROUSMONO-FRACTIONSBALERIndustry Code
SIC 38.11 - Scrap Metal Recycling in the UK
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Fluctuating metal prices heavily impact the industry. This is because metal prices dictate the price at which recyclers can sell scrap metal. When the price of steel and othe...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Iron and steel stand at the top of the market. Both metals don’t lose chemical or physical properties when recycled, meaning there’s no limit to how many times they can be re...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
- International Trade
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
- Total imports, level and trend
- Total exports, level and trend
- Trade Balance
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
- International trade, including imports by country and exports by country
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
- Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
The West Midlands is home to the most scrap metal producers. Companies benefit from the region having a strong manufacturing presence.
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Two big scrap metal recyclers dominate the fragmented industry. Many small scrap metal recyclers exist, but EMR and Sims Group UK hold the market share.
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
EMR thrives by investing and making acquisitions. In recent years, the company has put a lot of money into its existing sites and acquired other companies to expand its opera...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of European Metal Recycling Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Sims Group UK Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of ELG Metals UK Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for European Metal Recycling Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Sims Group UK Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for ELG Metals UK Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 governs recycling operations. It enforces cashless transactions and mandatory seller identification checks to clamp down on illegal trade, re...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Fluctuating metal prices influence profit. Volatile metal prices, exacerbated by market conditions, have led some major companies to incur losses for extended periods.
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2018-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
- Assets (2018-2022)
- Liabilities (2018-2022)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Scrap Metal Recycling in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?
The market size of the Scrap Metal Recycling in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £8.3bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Scrap Metal Recycling in the UK industry in 2024?
There are 279 businesses in the Scrap Metal Recycling in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Scrap Metal Recycling in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Scrap Metal Recycling in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 2.2 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Scrap Metal Recycling in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Scrap Metal Recycling in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Scrap Metal Recycling in the UK market in United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Scrap Metal Recycling market in United Kingdom are European Metal Recycling Ltd, Sims Group UK Ltd and ELG Metals UK Ltd
What does the Scrap Metal Recycling in the UK in United Kingdom include?
Iron and steel scrap recycling and Aluminium scrap recycling are part of the Scrap Metal Recycling in the UK industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Scrap Metal Recycling in the UK in United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is European Metal Recycling Ltd.
How competitive is the Scrap Metal Recycling in the UK industry in United Kingdom?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Scrap Metal Recycling in the UK industry in United Kingdom.
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Competitors
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Complementors
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Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the UK include:
- Office for National Statistics
- Office for Budget Responsibility
- Bank of England
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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