To　reduce　the　excessive　consumption　of　metal　minerals　and　boost　the　development　of　the　circular　economy,　scrap　metals　are　increasingly　recycled　across　the　world.　Due　to　the　geographically　uneven　distribution　of　scrap　metals,　most　countries　are　actively　participating　in　the　international　scrap　metal　trade.　This　study　collects　international　trade　records　on　scrap　metals　from　1988　to　2017　and　constructs　the　annual　global　scrap　metals　trade　network　(GSMTN)　to　analyze　the　characteristics　and　dynamic　evolution　of　the　scrap　metal　trade.　The　results　reveal　a　globalization　trend　of　the　scrap　metal　trade,　the　scale-free　characteristics　of　the　trade　network,　and　the　increasing　monopolization　of　the　export　market.　The　international　scrap　metal　trade　has　experienced　a　dynamic　evolution　in　the　past　30　years　and　has　developed　into　a　complex　system　with　a　hierarchical　structure　that　is　led　by　a　few　core　countries.　Three　relatively　stable　groups　are　the　main　players　in　the　international　scrap　metal　trade:　East　Asia-America-Oceania,　Europe,　and　South　Asia-Middle　East.　A　review　of　the　split　and　merger　process　of　these　communities　clearly　shows　that　geopolitics　and　economic　turbulence　are　important　elements　in　the　fragmentation　and　integration　of　trade　communities.　The　findings　will　enable　governments　to　understand　the　complex　trade　relationships　involved　in　scrap　metals,　which　can　help　policy-makers　propose　effective　import-export　policies　and　ensure　national　resource　security.　(C)　2019　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.