Chinese Scrap Metal Prices Register Broad Decline on the Index – October 15, 2026

Daily Scrap Metal Price Report | 2026-10-16 07:52:59 | By Anil Mathews

Except for Used Beverage Cans (UBC), which rose by CNY 250 per MT, aluminum scrap prices declined across all listed grades.

Summary

Copper Scrap Records Steepest Declines
Chinese copper scrap prices registered the largest losses on the ScrapMonster Price Index on October 15, 2026. #1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, and #2 Copper Wire and Tubing each dropped by CNY 2,000 per metric ton (MT), leading the overall market decline.
Aluminum, Stainless Steel and Brass/Bronze Prices Mostly Weaken
Aluminum scrap prices declined across most grades, while stainless steel, brass and bronze scrap also recorded broad-based losses. Used Beverage Cans bucked the aluminum market trend, gaining CNY 250 per MT, while 201 stainless steel scrap prices remained unchanged.
Steel Scrap Prices Remain Stable
Steel scrap was the only major category to hold steady on the day. Both #1 HMS and Cast Iron Scrap maintained their previous closing prices, contrasting with the declines across most non-ferrous and stainless steel scrap grades.

BEIJING (Scrap Monster): Chinese scrap metal prices displayed a weak trend on the ScrapMonster Price Index on Thursday, October 15, 2026, with copper scrap recording the largest declines.

Except for Used Beverage Cans (UBC), which rose by CNY 250 per MT, aluminum scrap prices declined across all listed grades.

Brass and bronze scrap also weakened. Selected stainless steel scrap grades declined, but steel scrap prices remained unchanged.

Copper Scrap Prices

Copper scrap recorded the strongest losses of the session.

#1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, and #2 Copper Wire and Tubing each declined by CNY 2,000 per MT.

#1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery fell CNY 1,000 per MT, while #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery declined CNY 400 per MT.

Copper Transformer Scrap, Cu Yokes, and Harness Wire 35% Recovery dropped by CNY 100 per MT each.

Heater Cores were down CNY 800 per MT, while Cu/Al Radiators saw a dip of CNY 400 per MT on the Index.

Scrap Electric Motors and Sealed Units each slipped CNY 50 per MT.

Aluminum Scrap Prices

6063 Aluminum Extrusions and Aluminum Ingots each fell CNY 350 per MT.

Aluminum Radiators and Aluminum Transformers declined CNY 150 per MT each.

E.C. Aluminum Wire, Old Cast and Old Sheet each lost CNY 350 per MT.

Bucking the general trend, Used Beverage Cans (UBC) posted a gain of CNY 250 per MT on the index.

Zorba 90% NF declined CNY 150 per MT from the previous day’s closing price.

Steel Scrap Prices

Steel scrap was the only major category to remain fully unchanged.

#1 HMS and Cast Iron Scrap both maintained their previous-day levels on the Index.

Stainless Steel Scrap Prices

Stainless steel scrap prices mostly declined on the Index. The only exception was 201 SS, which remained flat.

304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning and Shred SS prices dropped by CNY 50 per MT each on the Index.

309 SS and 316 SS Solid each declined CNY 100 per MT, while 310 SS fell CNY 150 per MT.

Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices

Brass and bronze scrap prices also moved lower.

Brass Radiator declined CNY 300 per MT.

Red Brass and Yellow Brass each fell CNY 400 per MT.