£4.3bn
£XXX.Xm
10,859
1,686
£XXX.Xm
Waste and scrap wholesalers are mostly smaller companies that collect and buy materials before reselling them to larger processors. Some larger businesses process recyclable products before wholesaling them to metal, plastic and glass manufacturers. Scrap metal makes up the bulk of industry sales, but plastic and glass are also crucial. Global metal prices drive wholesalers' performance, dictating the prices at which they can buy and sell materials.
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £4.3bn in 2024.
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (£m)
2025 |
---|---|---|
European Metal Recycling Ltd | 633.4 | |
Sims Group UK Ltd | 169.0 | |
ELG Metals UK Ltd | 71.5 |
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Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Paper and cardboard, Metal and Plastic. Paper and cardboard is the largest segment of the Waste & Scrap Wholesaling in the UK.
Metal waste scrap's recycling rate remains high
Companies in this industry wholesale metal and non-metal waste and scrap for recycling. This involves collecting, sorting and separating waste. It also consists of stripping used goods, like cars, to obtain reusable parts.
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SIC 46.77 - Waste & Scrap Wholesaling in the UK
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Metal prices dictate revenue performance. Prices fluctuate substantially in line with supply and demand. The world price of iron ore (the crucial raw material for steel) soar...
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Metal makes up nearly half of the industry’s revenue. This means that metal sales and prices greatly influence waste and scrap wholesalers’ performance. Steel prices have bee...
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Areas with high manufacturing draw in wholesalers. Being near manufacturers gives the industry access to more waste and scrap, especially scrap metal.
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.
Offering low prices will mean higher sales. Wholesalers prioritise low-cost materials to boost sales and maximise profitability, especially as price competition surges.
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
European Metal Recycling loses out during COVID-19. The forced closure of its operations and other businesses’ facilities meant incoming volumes plunged, limiting revenue opp...
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Wholesalers can’t pay for scrap metal in cash. Regulations banning this practice were introduced in 2013 and wholesalers need to keep detailed records of scrap metal dealings...
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Metal prices drive movements in profit. They can be highly volatile and wholesalers often struggle to find the balance between attracting customers and covering costs. Lower ...
Including values and annual change:
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Key data sources in the UK include:
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These sources include:
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The market size of the Waste & Scrap Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £4.3bn in 2024.
There are 1,686 businesses in the Waste & Scrap Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.1 % between 2019 and 2024.
The market size of the Waste & Scrap Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 2.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
Over the next five years, the Waste & Scrap Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.
The biggest companies operating in the Waste & Scrap Wholesaling market in United Kingdom are European Metal Recycling Ltd, Sims Group UK Ltd and ELG Metals UK Ltd
Metal and Glass are part of the Waste & Scrap Wholesaling in the UK industry.
The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is European Metal Recycling Ltd.
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Waste & Scrap Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom.