Every day, your shop generates metal chips and scrap. Most companies see them as a problem: they take up valuable space, need to be disposed of, and involve administrative procedures. In reality, however, this material is part of a solid and growing market where demand currently exceeds supply. Here are a few numbers that help explain the reason why.
A High-Growth Sector, , Not Just a Waste Management Service
Italian metal scrap recovery sector has grown significantly in recent years. In the industry, the operating companies turnover has increased by 64.5% in just two years, while employment has grown by 10.7% over the same period.
Source Assofermet Rottami, study conducted with Cerved cooperation.
Who operates in this market? Around two-thirds (65.9%) of the companies are wholesale metal scrap traders, one-fifth (20%) are specialised in recovering metal scrap and production waste, while the remaining 14.1% are vehicle dismantling companies.
Source Assofermet Rottami, study conducted with Cerved collaboration.
This is much more than a waste management service. It is a well-established industry by a market ready to purchase the waste material that your shop produces every day.
Italy Doesn’t Generate Enough Scrap
Italy is an important importer of metal scrap. In 2024, the country imported 7 million tonnes of waste—mainly metal scrap from Germany and France—and exported 5.1 million tonnes. Therefore the domestic collection is not enough to meet the Italian steel mills and foundries needs.
Source by ISPRA, Special Waste Report 2026.
In practical terms, clean, well-sorted metal chips produced by your shop are not just waste to be discarded. They are valuable raw materials that the Italian market is actively looking for.
Scrap is the Most Recycled Material in Europe, but It is Slowing
Among all the materials supervised by the European Union, the metals have the highest recycling rate. In 2024, 23.4% of the metals used across Europe came from recycled sources, in comparison to other recycled materials rates . However, this situation dropped down by 1.2 percentage points compared to 2023, showing that there is still considerable room for improving. Every shop that manages its metal chips properly contributes to increasing directly the availability of recycled raw materials
Source by Eurostat.
Scrap Prices Are Growing Again
Metal scrap prices were highly fluctuating between 2024 and 2025, with weak demand during the first part of 2025. The Market forecasts, however, point to a growth over the coming years. Analysts expect that the average price of scrap will increase by around 9% between 2025 and 2028.
Source by PricePedia, a monitoring commodity price platform based on Eurostat customs data.
Why Proper Chip Management Pays Off
Loose metal chips take up high storage space, become contaminated more easily, and generally have a lower market value. Compacted, clean and properly sorted chips are worthed more and they are much easier to sell.
The trend supports this: domestic demand exceeds supply, recycling rates still have room to grow, and prices are expected to grow constantly. Every kilogram of metal chips that is managed correctly instead of being wasted becomes part of a market that needs this material and is willing to pay more for higher-quality scrap.
In this context, chip compaction is no longer simply a matter of keeping the workshop clean and organised. It becomes a reliable business opportunity that improves operational efficiency while increasing the value of your production waste.
