Chinese Scrap Metal Prices Show Mixed Trend on the Index: Copper Falls, Stainless Steel Jumps- September 23, 2026

Daily Scrap Metal Price Report  |  2026-09-24 10:25:14   |   By

Chinese scrap metal prices were mixed on September 23, with major copper grades falling CNY 300 per metric ton while stainless steel gained as much as CNY 150/MT. Aluminum, steel and brass/bronze remained unchanged.

Summary

  • Copper Scrap Prices Edge Lower

    Copper scrap prices recorded modest declines, with #1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, and #2 Copper Wire and Tubing falling by CNY 300/MT. Other selected grades also slipped, while several copper scrap varieties remained unchanged.

  • Stainless Steel Scrap Prices Rise

    Stainless steel scrap prices moved higher across most grades. 310 SS posted the largest increase of CNY 150/MT, while 309 SS and 316 SS Solid gained CNY 100/MT and 304 SS grades and Shred SS increased by CNY 50/MT.

  • Other Scrap Categories Remain Stable

    Aluminum, steel and brass/bronze scrap prices were unchanged on the Index. All listed aluminum grades, including 6063 Extrusions and UBC, along with #1 HMS, Cast Iron Scrap and brass/bronze grades, maintained previous-day levels.

BEIJING (Scrap Monster): Chinese scrap metal prices posted a mixed performance on the ScrapMonster Price Index on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, as copper moved lower while stainless steel advanced. Aluminum, steel and brass/bronze prices were unchanged.

MetalSeptember 23 MoveMarket Read
Copper▼ Up to CNY 300/MTMajor clean grades pulled back after the prior day's sharp gain
Aluminum→ FlatNo movement across tracked grades
Steel→ Flat#1 HMS and Cast Iron Scrap unchanged
Stainless Steel▲ Up to CNY 150/MTBroad gains led by 310 SS
Brass/Bronze→ FlatAll listed grades unchanged

SCRAPMONSTER EDGE

Copper's pullback erased only part of the previous day's surge. Major clean grades fell CNY 300/MT on September 23 after gaining CNY 1,100/MT one session earlier. That means roughly 27% of Tuesday's increase was retraced, leaving those grades approximately CNY 800/MT higher across the two sessions.

Copper Scrap Prices

Copper scrap prices moved lower following the previous session's broad advance.

#1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing and #2 Copper Wire and Tubing each ▼ fell CNY 300/MT from the previous day.

#1 Insulated Copper Wire with 85% Recovery ▼ declined CNY 150/MT.

Heater Cores ▼ fell CNY 100/MT.

#2 Insulated Copper Wire with 50% Recovery, Copper Transformer Scrap, Cu Yokes, Cu/Al Radiator Scrap, Harness Wire with 35% Recovery, Scrap Electric Motors and Sealed Units were all → unchanged.

Copper Benchmark Check

China's domestic copper futures market also weakened during the September 23 session.

The Shanghai Futures Exchange main copper contract closed at approximately CNY 110,990/MT, down CNY 230/MT, or about 0.21%, from the previous close.

Scrap/futures read: The direction was aligned. Major Chinese copper scrap grades moved lower alongside SHFE copper, although scrap buying benchmarks do not move one-for-one with futures prices.

Aluminum Scrap Prices

Aluminum scrap prices recorded no movement across the listed categories.

6063 Extrusions and Aluminum Ingots were → unchanged.

Aluminum Radiators and Aluminum Transformers also held steady.

E.C. Aluminum Wire, Old Cast, Old Sheet, UBC and Zorba 90% INF all recorded → no variation.

Steel Scrap Prices

Steel scrap prices remained stable during the session.

#1 HMS and Cast Iron Scrap were both → unchanged from the previous day.

Stainless Steel Scrap Prices

Stainless steel was the only major scrap category to record broad gains on September 23.

201 SS was → unchanged.

304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning and Shred SS each ▲ gained CNY 50/MT.

309 SS and 316 SS Solid each ▲ rose CNY 100/MT.

310 SS recorded the strongest stainless move, ▲ increasing CNY 150/MT.

Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices

Brass and bronze scrap prices recorded no movement during the session.

Brass Radiator, Red Brass and Yellow Brass were all → unchanged.

Market Read

The September 23 Chinese scrap market showed a clear divergence between copper and stainless steel.

Copper gave back part of the previous day's sharp advance, but the CNY 300/MT decline in major clean grades was modest relative to Tuesday's CNY 1,100/MT increase. On a two-session basis, those grades remained approximately CNY 800/MT higher.

Stainless steel moved in the opposite direction, with gains ranging from CNY 50/MT to CNY 150/MT across most tracked grades.

Aluminum, steel and brass/bronze provided little directional signal, with all listed grades holding steady.

Benchmark buying-price move • Local quotes vary by grade and location.

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