Heavy melting steel scrap is one of the most widely traded ferrous grades worldwide, built on a classification the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries set out in the United States, where HMS 1 excludes galvanised and blackened steel while HMS 2 includes it. India's induction and electric arc furnaces run on the same logic. Demand isn't the problem - finished steel consumption grew 8.3% year-on-year to 41.6 million tones in April-June 2026.
At MetalMandi, we help businesses price heavy melting steel scraps correctly and move it without a chain of traders. We are a digital scrap marketplace powered by Attero Recycling, buying directly with no middlemen. Our app offers live prices, real-time tracking, and fast payments, with negotiation available. We work with 550+ vendors, from small operations to industrial suppliers.
What Is Heavy Melting Steel (HMS) Scrap
HMS is recyclable steel and wrought iron recovered from structures, machinery and vehicles at the end of their working life - what the industry calls obsolete scrap. Its density and thickness make it efficient to charge into a furnace, which is why mills favour it over thin, loose material.
Types of HMS Scrap: HMS 1 vs HMS 2
HMS 1 is the higher grade - steel at least a quarter-inch thick with no galvanised or blackened material. HMS 2 allows thinner pieces from an eighth-inch upward, including galvanised and blackened steel. HMS usually trades as a blend - a premium 80:20 mix, or lower-grade 70:30 and 60:40 combinations.
What Affects Heavy Melting Steel Scrap Price
Thickness and Grade of Steel
Thicker, denser HMS 1 commands a premium because it charges efficiently and melts with less oxidation loss than thin HMS 2.
Melting Loss and Furnace Yield
Every grade loses weight as slag and oxidation during melting. Cleaner, thicker HMS loses less, so mills pay more for a better yield per ton charged.
Domestic Steel Demand and Import Prices
When sponge iron or imported billet turns cheaper, mills lean on those alternatives instead of chasing HMS, softening the heavy melting steel scrap price even when demand looks healthy.
Heavy Melting Steel Scrap Price Today
As of early August 2026, an 80:20 HMS 1 and 2 blend traded between ₹33.50 and ₹36.50 per kg, while a lower HMS 2-heavy mix ran ₹31.50 to ₹34 per kg.
Heavy Metal Scrap vs HMS: Understanding the Difference
These terms get mixed up often. HMS is a specific ferrous grading term. "Heavy metal scrap" is a looser term for dense material in general, sometimes confused with toxicological heavy metals like lead in batteries. If asking about heavy metal scrap prices for HMS specifically, always confirm the grade first.
How Heavy Metal Recycling Impacts HMS Value
Heavy metal recycling - shredding, magnetic separation and sorting before melting - directly shapes what mills pay. Well-separated HMS with minimal contamination gives a higher furnace yield, so businesses that sort before pickup consistently see stronger price outcomes than unsorted lots.
Why Track HMS Rates on MetalMandi
Heavy melting steel scrap price moves with grade, blend ratio, melting loss and available alternatives. Understanding HMS 1 versus HMS 2, and not confusing HMS with "heavy metal scrap," helps businesses negotiate from knowledge - something MetalMandi's live HMS rates support directly on our app, so businesses aren't relying on a single yard's quote. As the direct buyer, with no middlemen, we keep pricing transparent, payments fast, and negotiation open for occasional or monthly HMS supply.
FAQs
Can I supply HMS scrap in small or occasional quantities?
Yes. MetalMandi works with small scrap businesses and large industrial suppliers alike, pricing occasional lots against the same live HMS rate as bulk supply.
What is the difference between HMS 1 and HMS 2 scraps?
HMS 1 is thicker, denser steel free of galvanised or blackened material. HMS 2 includes thinner, galvanised or blackened steel, typically at a lower rate.
Does MetalMandi offer pickup and logistics support for bulk HMS scrap?
Yes, pickup and logistics support is available for bulk HMS scrap through the app, along with live pricing, fast payments, and negotiation.
Is heavy metal scrap the same as HMS scrap?
No. HMS is a specific, graded ferrous classification, while "heavy metal scrap" is a general term sometimes referring to non-ferrous or toxic heavy metals.
How does melting loss affect HMS scrap value?
Melting loss is the weight lost as slag and oxidation during processing. Cleaner, thicker HMS 1 loses less, giving mills a better yield and a higher rate.
