2026 SMM Selection Kicks Off to Recognize High-Quality Yards, Trusted Traders & Excellent Equipment Enterprises

As global focus on sustainable development intensifies, the recycling and reuse of metal resources can effectively reduce waste, alleviate environmental pollution, and drive the green transformation of the economy. With deeper global integration in the recycled metals industry, international scrap yards and traders are playing an increasingly vital role.

As the source of raw materials for recycled metals, the standardization of scrap yard management and operations directly affects the sound development of the entire supply chain. To enhance the market competitiveness of recycled metals, traders must not only keep abreast of market trends but also ensure that the raw materials they procure meet environmental protection and quality standards. To ensure the quality and compliance of recycled metals, many regions have adopted a “whitelist” system. By establishing a rigorous review mechanism and including qualified suppliers on the whitelist, issues such as substandard quality and high transaction costs can be effectively reduced.

Given the unique characteristics and complexity of the recycled metals industry, it is particularly important to conduct fair and impartial selection activities. Through such selections, outstanding scrap yards and traders in the industry can be encouraged to improve their management capabilities and service quality, while also setting benchmarks for the industry as a whole and promoting its healthy and sustainable development.

Therefore, in response to market development, to reduce transaction costs, and to optimize exchanges and cooperation within the recycled metals industry, this selection activity aims to select a group of exemplary supplier representative enterprises across the recycled metals industry with high integrity, strong innovation capabilities, and strong demonstrative value, effectively connect the global recycled metals industry, align with industry development needs, and create a new landscape of friendly, mutually beneficial, and integrity-based cooperation in the global recycling industry.

Selection Content 

Selection 1: High-Quality Yards

Selection 2: Honest Traders

Selection 3: High-Quality Equipment Enterprises

Selection Timeline and Detailed Process

Online Participation: From Now—March 27

Selection Period: March 30—April 17

Shortlist Announcement: May 4—May 8

Registration Method: Self-Registration/Enterprise Nomination

Offline Awards Ceremony: At the banquet of the 2026 SMM Global Renewable Metals Industry Summit  on the evening of May 11 

Notes Related to the Selection Program

·Core Value of the Selection

1. Industry Level: Establish a unified evaluation benchmark, promote high-quality industry development, and clarify the competitive landscape across various sub-sectors.

2. Enterprise Level: Help enterprises accurately position their standing within the industry, identify gaps in core competitiveness, and support overseas market expansion.

3. Industry Chain Level: Provide authoritative references for upstream and downstream collaboration, capital deployment, and client selection, reducing supply chain collaboration risks.

·Core Selection Dimensions
 

·Selection Implementation Steps and Methods

Step 1: Defining the Selection Scope

Before launching the selection, SMM and the relevant participating parties will clarify the core scope to ensure evaluation accuracy:

• Identify specific sub-sectors for evaluation (e.g., secondary copper, secondary aluminum, ferrous metals recycling, etc.);

• Set baseline eligibility thresholds (e.g., revenue scale, capacity level, years since establishment, etc.);

• Clarify the evaluation cycle (annual updates) and geographic scope (global/key regions).

Step 2: Multi-Source Data Collection

Through a combined approach of “secondary research + primary survey,” ensure data completeness and authenticity:

1. Desk research (secondary data): SMM’s proprietary industry database, enterprises’ publicly available annual reports/official websites, third-party research reports, publicly available industry news, etc.;

2. Industry interviews (primary data): Conduct semi-structured in-depth interviews covering evaluated enterprises, leading industry brands, dealers, industry associations, and other stakeholders to address biases in desk research and obtain market consensus information;

3. Enterprise information verification: Subject to enterprise compliance requirements, communicate with enterprises to obtain core supporting materials such as sales, capacity, and certifications.

Step 3: Indicator Scoring and Weight Allocation

1. Scoring criteria: Use a 1–5 scoring system for quantitative evaluation, with scores corresponding to tiers of industry competitiveness (5 = industry benchmark, 4 = excellent, 3 = good, 2 = qualified, 1 = needs improvement);

2. Weight allocation: Based on the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) method, determine the weight of each dimension in combination with the characteristics of the sub-sector;

3. Overall score calculation: Individual score = indicator score × the indicator’s weight; overall score = Σ individual scores (maximum 100 points); ≥85 points qualifies as a high-quality supplier.

Step 4: Cross-Validation and Independent Review

1. Cross-Validation of Data: Desk research data, enterprise self-reported data, and industry interview information were cross-checked against each other, and special investigations were conducted for anomalous data (e.g., a sudden surge in market share);

2. Review by an Independent Review Committee: An evaluation committee independent of the business and management was established (including industry experts, senior analysts, and third-party consultants). The committee reviewed the scoring results based on unified standards to ensure objectivity and fairness.

Step 5: Results Update and Disclosure

1. A full data update was completed once each year, and internal evaluations were completed in accordance with the above steps;

2. In June each year, SMM publishes the list of high-quality suppliers in each sub-segment on the SMM official website and official app, and simultaneously discloses the core evaluation dimensions and ranking basis (excluding enterprise confidential information).

Step 6: Mechanism for New Enterprises to Participate in the Selection

In the last month of each year (December), new enterprises can apply to participate in the selection. Applicant enterprises are required to complete scope alignment and information sharing in accordance with Step 1. After data collection, validation, and review, they are incorporated into the evaluation system for the next round of high-quality supplier ranking assessments.

·Selection Assurance Mechanism

1. Support from a Professional Team:

The SMM analyst team had more than 20 years of analysis experience in the recycled metals industry. Our surveys cover more than 1,352 enterprises across the entire industry chain, with long-term and stable data tracking capabilities.

2. Data Verifiability:

All core evaluation data have clear sources and supported multi-dimensional cross-validation, ensuring that the results had high differentiation and credibility.

3. Independence and Fairness:

The Selection Committee operates independently, avoiding business interference throughout the process. The scoring criteria and procedures are open and transparent, ensuring that the selection results are objective and impartial.

·Disclaimer

1. This methodology serves only as an assessment reference by SMM for high-quality suppliers in the recycled metals industry chain and does not constitute a basis for any purchase or sale transactions or investment decisions.

2. SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. reserves the final right of interpretation of this methodology and has the right to adjust the assessment dimensions and weightings in accordance with industry development trends.

3. The selection results are completed based on publicly available information and information provided by enterprises. SMM has fulfilled its reasonable verification obligations but does not guarantee the absolute completeness and accuracy of the data.