Scrap Metal Export From Houston to India, Southeast Asia and Beyond
Scrap metal export runs on tight margins. A container that loads overweight, a missing inspection certificate or a wrong HS code can erase the profit on a lot. You need a forwarder who books the right equipment, plans the truck weight and gets the paperwork right before the box leaves Texas.
Texas International Freight moves ferrous and nonferrous scrap from Houston, Dallas and the Gulf Coast to mills and smelters overseas. How many loads do you plan to ship each month?
Scrap Export Loads We Have Quoted
Recent requests cover most of the trade. One shipper asked us to move 40 ft containers of aluminum scrap, about 25 tons each, from Houston to Mundra, India. Another requested four 20 ft containers of cast iron scrap from the Dallas rail ramp to Mundra on FAS terms.
A third exporter asked about six 40 ft containers of aluminum scrap, classified under HS 7602, from Houston to Laem Chabang, Thailand. We also quoted copper scrap granules in bulk 20 ft loads and aluminum scrap imports from Argentina into the United States. Each file starts with the same questions: grade, weight per box, origin ramp and destination rules.
Container Weights and Overweight Trucking in Texas
Scrap is dense. A 20 ft container of cast iron or copper fills its weight limit long before it fills its space. Many scrap exporters load 20 ft boxes for heavy grades and 40 ft boxes for bulkier aluminum.
Road weight is the second limit. Texas sets a legal gross vehicle weight of 80,000 lb. For port drayage, TxDMV offers an annual Intermodal Shipping Container Port Permit, self-issued through TxPROS. It allows up to 93,000 lb on six axles and 100,000 lb on seven axles within 30 miles of covered ports, including Bayport and Barbours Cut in Houston. Ask your trucker which axle setup and permit your lane needs before you set the load weight.
Our container shipping team books equipment with carriers that accept scrap, and our drayage partners know the Port of Houston terminals.
Scrap Grades, Specifications and HS Codes
Buyers price scrap by grade. Many U.S. contracts reference the Scrap Specifications Circular published by the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA). The group was known as the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) until April 2024, so older contracts still cite ISRI grades.
Customs classification follows the material:
- Chapter 72, heading 7204: ferrous waste and scrap, including cast iron and steel.
- Chapter 74, heading 7404: copper waste and scrap.
- Chapter 76, heading 7602: aluminum waste and scrap.
Match the grade on the sales contract, the commercial invoice and the export filing. A mismatch slows clearance and invites inspection at the destination port.
Destination Import Rules You Must Plan For
India
India requires a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) for most imported metal scrap. A Pre-Shipment Inspection Agency approved by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) inspects the load at the port of loading. The certificate confirms the scrap is free of radioactive material, arms, ammunition and explosives. Book the inspection before the container is sealed. See our shipping to India page for routing details.
China
China closed its market to solid waste imports in 2021. Recycled copper, brass and cast aluminum alloy raw materials can still enter when they meet the national standards GB/T 38471, GB/T 38470 and GB/T 38472. Loads that fall short are refused.
Thailand and Southeast Asia
Rules change by country and by grade. Ask your buyer to confirm any import license before you book. Our shipping to Thailand team handles the Laem Chabang lane.
Incoterms and Recurring Container Programs
Scrap sells on several terms. Under FAS, Free Alongside Ship, you deliver the goods beside the vessel and the buyer takes over. Under FOB, Free On Board, your responsibility ends once the goods are on board. Pick the term that matches who books the ocean freight.
Many scrap yards ship on a schedule, not one box at a time. A recurring program locks in equipment, rail ramp cutoffs and inspection slots each week. We also move scrap by truck into Mexico through our shipping to Mexico service.
Book Your Scrap Metal Export
Send us your grade, monthly volume, loading point and destination port. We will build a container program around your yard. Request a quote online or call +1 877-489-9184 to talk with our Houston export team.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scrap Metal Export
How much scrap can I load in a 20 ft container?
It depends on the carrier limit and the Texas road weight. Heavy grades like cast iron from demolished mining equipment or cut-up oil rig steel fill a 20 ft box by weight, not volume. We confirm the carrier payload and the truck permit before you load.
Can you export scrap from decommissioned heavy machinery?
Yes. Cut steel from retired cranes, excavators and agricultural equipment ships as ferrous scrap under heading 7204. Remove fluids, tires and batteries before loading so the scrap meets buyer specs and inspection rules.
Do I need an inspection certificate to ship scrap to India?
Most metal scrap entering India needs a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from a DGFT-approved agency. The inspector checks the load before sealing. We schedule the inspection around your yard and rail ramp cutoffs.
Is FAS or FOB better for scrap exports?
FAS suits buyers who book their own vessel space, as with our cast iron load from the Dallas rail ramp to Mundra. FOB works when you want control until the goods are on board. Breakbulk steel from oil and gas or energy projects can sell on either term.
Do you ship scrap to Mexico and Canada?
Yes. We truck ferrous and nonferrous scrap from Texas yards into Mexico and run rail or truck moves to Canada. Construction and energy sector demolition scrap moves the same way as new heavy equipment, with the right permits and border paperwork.
