Radius Recycling Navigates Acquisition and Landmark Tariff Litigation

The final chapter of Schnitzer Steel Industries' journey as a publicly traded entity is being shaped by two major events: a billion-dollar acquisition and its involvement in a high-stakes class action lawsuit. The company, which operates under the Radius Recycling name, finds itself at a significant crossroads.

Market confirmation has been received that Toyota Tsusho America has completed its full acquisition of Radius Recycling. The deal carries an estimated enterprise value of $1.3 billion. For shareholders, this valuation serves as the definitive benchmark for the company's equity as the buyout concludes. Becoming part of the extensive Toyota network is expected to provide the operational scale necessary to compete effectively within a challenging and often volatile trading environment for recycled materials.

Involvement in a Major Tariff Challenge

Concurrently, Schnitzer Steel is acting as a lead plaintiff in a substantial collective legal action filed against the U.S. government. The firm has joined forces with nearly 100 other major corporations, including Costco and Revlon, to seek refunds for import duties paid.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Schnitzer Steel Industries?

Filed at the United States Court of International Trade, the litigation challenges the constitutionality of tariffs imposed under the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The plaintiffs are moving to secure claims before U.S. Customs and Border Protection finalizes the liquidation for these imports. The financial implications are enormous; importers paid over $122 billion in such duties between January and July 2025 alone. For a margin-sensitive business like metal recycling, a successful recovery could materially impact the post-acquisition financial standing of the entity.

Operating Within a Growing Global Sector

These company-specific developments are unfolding against a backdrop of strong growth projections for the worldwide metal recycling industry. Recent market data forecasts expansion from $54.5 billion in 2022 to $92.2 billion by 2031, representing a compound annual growth rate of 6.8%. Industry analyses frequently cite Schnitzer Steel alongside firms like Aurubis AG as a global leader in this space.

Investor attention is now divided between the proceedings at the United States Court of International Trade and an anticipated ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on presidential authority regarding tariffs, expected by December 2025. A favorable verdict for the plaintiffs could deliver a substantial financial windfall to the participating companies. For Schnitzer Steel's shares, however, trading activity is now principally focused on the finalized terms of the completed acquisition by Toyota Tsusho.