The Saudi Arabia scrap materials market is expected to attain a volume of 24.23 million tons by 2035 from 13.48 million tons in 2024, registering a CAGR of 6.5% during 2025–2035. The growing emphasis on battery recycling is likely to bring new trends into the market during the forecast period.
The development of the local automotive industry involving electric vehicle production and traditional automobile assembly generates a significant amount of scrap metal, including aluminum, steel, and copper. These materials are generated from waste, defective parts, and end-of-life vehicles. The country’s growing focus on sustainability and circular economy has encouraged companies to prioritize recycling automotive scrap. Thus, the growing automotive and machinery sectors boost the Saudi Arabia scrap materials market growth. Moreover, supportive government regulations and initiatives are expected to create lucrative opportunities for the Saudi Arabia scrap materials market during the forecast period.
The Saudi Arabia scrap materials market encompasses a vast array of recyclable materials, including ferrous and nonferrous metals, paper, plastic, glass, and other waste materials. These scrap materials serve a crucial purpose in the industrial ecosystem, providing a sustainable source of raw materials for various industries. The scrap materials are sourced from a diverse range of origins, such as construction and demolition activities, manufacturing processes, and household waste outputs. The Saudi Arabian scrap materials market has experienced significant growth in recent years, driven by the government's initiatives to promote sustainable development and reduce waste. The government has implemented regulations and policies to encourage the recycling of scrap materials, reducing landfills in the country. The growing demand for scrap materials is largely driven by the construction industry, which requires large quantities of raw materials for infrastructure development projects. Additionally, the rapid industrialization and urbanization in the country have led to an increase in waste generation, providing a vast supply of scrap materials.
The shift toward green production methods and adoption of alternatives to virgin raw materials has raised the popularity of recycled metals in multiple sectors such as construction, automotive, machinery, and electronics. The surge in mega-projects, infrastructure development, and industrial expansion is further fueling the demand for recycled metals. As per the Bureau of International Recycling, Saudi Arabia has a well-established recycling industry, with several plants and facilities across the country focused on collecting, processing, and recycling nonferrous metals. With future projects planned on implementing green initiatives, Saudi Arabia is committed to enhancing its recycling efforts as part of its Vision 2030 program. The rise in construction activities, infrastructure projects, and industrial expansion have increased the demand for steel, aluminum, and copper, making industries seek cost-effective and sustainable alternatives such as scrap metals. According to the International Trade Administration, Saudi Arabia is building smart cities (such as NEOM, Red Sea, Qiddiya, Waad Alshamal, and SPARK) and aims to become the most connected and digitized country by 2030. Additionally, the steel industry is one of the significant consumers of recycled metals, as it is increasingly integrating scrap into its production processes to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. The growing recycling initiatives and investments in modern processing facilities have made metal recycling efficient and economically viable. Therefore, the rising demand for recycled metals drives the Saudi Arabia scrap materials market.
Various government bodies and organizations in Saudi Arabia are focused on establishing policies and legislations to promote sustainable economic practices and recycling/reusing materials to achieve carbon neutrality goals by 2050. The adoption of recycled materials has grown among customers due to rising environmental concerns. In January 2024, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment announced a comprehensive plan to recycle nearly 95% of the country’s waste. This initiative is anticipated to contribute ~US$ 31.99 billion to Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product and aims to generate over 100,000 employment opportunities in the country. Moreover, sustainability-focused initiatives, such as the Green Saudi Initiative, align with Vision 2030’s objectives, pushing for increased efficiency in resource utilization and waste reduction. The country is also working toward integrating best practices in recycling, adopting advanced processing techniques, and fostering collaborations with global companies in the recycling domain. Therefore, supportive government regulations and initiatives are expected to create lucrative opportunities for the Saudi Arabia scrap materials market during the forecast period.
Key segments that contributed to the derivation of the Saudi Arabia scrap materials market analysis are scrap type and end-use Industry.
The geographical scope of the Saudi Arabia scrap materials market is mainly divided into Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Jubail, Madinah, Al Kharj, Mecca, and the Rest of Saudi Arabia.
Jeddah, a port city, is an important hub for scrap imports and exports. The city’s industrial activities generate high amounts of ferrous and nonferrous metal scrap and paper and plastic wastes. The city held a significant share of the Saudi Arabia scrap materials market in 2024. The automotive and marine industries in Jeddah contribute to significant vehicle scrap. In June 2024, Reviva, a subsidiary of the Saudi Investment Recycling Company Group, signed an agreement to establish a plant for recycling marine and industrial waste at Jeddah Islamic Port. The project was valued at US$ 8 million for the development of an area of 10,000 sq. m. The collaboration between Mawani (Saudi Ports Authority) and Reviva is expected to boost the country’s waste management efforts as part of Saudi Vision 2030 in the coming years.
| Report Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Market size in 2024 | Volume13,483.42 kilo tons |
| Market Size by 2035 | Volume 24,226.75 kilo tons |
| Global CAGR (2025 - 2035) | 6.5% |
| Historical Data | 2021-2023 |
| Forecast period | 2025-2035 |
| Segments Covered |
By Scrap Type
|
| Regions and Countries Covered | Saudi Arabia
|
| Market leaders and key company profiles |
The Saudi Arabia scrap materials market is evaluated by gathering qualitative and quantitative data post primary and secondary research, which includes important corporate publications, association data, and databases. A recent key development in the market is mentioned below:
The " Saudi Arabia Scrap Materials Market Size and Forecast (2021–2035)" report provides a detailed analysis of the market covering below areas:
Saudi Arabia Scrap Materials Market - List of Companies
The growing emphasis on battery recycling is likely to emerge as a key trend in the market in the future.
Riyadh accounted for the largest share of the market in 2024.
Growing automotive and machinery sectors and rising demand for recycled metals are major factors contributing to the growth of the market.
In terms of volume, the market size is projected to reach 24.23 million tons by 2035.
SCG International Corp Co Ltd, Aboura Metals FZCO, Four Season FZE, SJ Iron and Metals Co, Bissan Co Ltd, PGI Group, Gulf Union Trading Co, Sohum Steel Scrap, Arab Recycling Co, and Middle East Scrap Co are among the key players operating in the Saudi Arabia scrap materials market.