Chinese Scrap Metal Prices: Aluminum Falls CNY 300/MT, Copper Declines – November 2, 2026
Chinese scrap prices declined across aluminum, copper and selected stainless steel grades on November 2, 2026. Five aluminum grades fell CNY 300 per metric ton, while major clean copper benchmarks lost CNY 200/MT. Brass/bronze and steel remained unchanged.
By Anil Mathews
Published: November 3, 2026
Market data: November 2, 2026
Market at a Glance
- Copper: ▼ CNY 50–200/MT across five grades; seven unchanged.
- Aluminum: ▼ CNY 150–300/MT across all nine reported grades.
- Brass/Bronze: → Flat across all three grades.
- Stainless Steel: ▼ CNY 50–100/MT across three grades; four unchanged.
- Steel: → Flat for #1 HMS and Cast Iron Scrap.
BEIJING (Scrap Monster): Chinese scrap metal buying benchmarks weakened on Monday, November 2, with aluminum leading declines across the ScrapMonster Price Index.
Every reported aluminum grade moved lower, led by CNY 300/MT losses in extrusions, ingots, E.C. Aluminum Wire, Old Cast and Old Sheet. Three major clean copper grades dropped CNY 200/MT, while selected stainless steel grades also declined. Brass/bronze and ferrous scrap remained unchanged.
ScrapMonster Edge: Aluminum Reverses Friday's Gains
China's aluminum scrap market reversed its October 30 recovery. Five principal grades that gained CNY 200/MT on Friday fell CNY 300/MT on Monday, leaving them CNY 100/MT lower across the two sessions.
The remaining four aluminum grades gained CNY 100/MT on Friday but lost CNY 150/MT on Monday, producing a net two-session decline of CNY 50/MT each.
Clean copper remained under pressure. #1 Copper Bare Bright and #1/#2 Copper Wire and Tubing declined CNY 450/MT on October 30 and another CNY 200/MT on November 2, a combined CNY 650/MT loss.
Market takeaway: Monday's aluminum decline erased Friday's recovery, while clean copper extended its losses. The weakness remained grade-specific, with brass/bronze and ferrous scrap recording no additional price movement.
Copper Scrap Prices
Copper scrap prices declined across five reported grades, led by CNY 200/MT losses in three major clean copper benchmarks:
- #1 Copper Bare Bright
- #1 Copper Wire and Tubing
- #2 Copper Wire and Tubing
#1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery fell CNY 100/MT, while Heater Cores declined CNY 50/MT.
Unchanged: #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery, Copper Transformer Scrap, Cu Yokes, Cu/Al Radiators, Harness Wire 35% Recovery, Scrap Electric Motors and Sealed Units.
Aluminum Scrap Prices
Aluminum recorded the broadest price declines, with all nine listed grades falling by CNY 150–300 per metric ton.
Five grades declined CNY 300/MT each:
- 6063 Aluminum Extrusions
- Aluminum Ingots
- E.C. Aluminum Wire
- Old Cast
- Old Sheet
The remaining four grades lost CNY 150/MT each: Aluminum Radiators, Aluminum Transformers, Used Beverage Cans (UBC) and Zorba 90% INF.
The declines more than offset Friday's gains across every reported aluminum category.
Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices
Brass and bronze scrap benchmarks held steady across all three reported categories.
Unchanged: Brass Radiator, Red Brass and Yellow Brass.
The category showed no additional movement after Red and Yellow Brass declined in the October 30 session.
Stainless Steel Scrap Prices
Stainless steel weakened across three of the seven reported grades.
309 SS and 316 SS Solid each declined CNY 50/MT, while 310 SS recorded the largest stainless steel loss at CNY 100/MT.
Unchanged: 201 SS, 304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning and Shred SS.
Steel Scrap Prices
Chinese ferrous scrap prices remained unchanged despite the declines across several nonferrous categories.
Unchanged: #1 HMS and Cast Iron Scrap.
Neither reported grade recorded a day-over-day buying-benchmark adjustment.
Pricing scope: This report covers day-over-day changes in ScrapMonster Chinese scrap buying benchmarks, expressed in Chinese yuan per metric ton (CNY/MT). Local purchasing quotations vary by grade, recovery, quality, quantity, location and buyer. Current proprietary Premium buying-price levels are not disclosed.