Copper Scrap Prices: Weekly Market Report- May 16, 2025
The closing price of LME Copper 3-Month contract stood at USD 9,528.00 per tonne as on May 15, 2025.
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):The below report analyses the weekly price trends of scrap copper across various regional markets during the period from May 8 to 15, 2025 on the Scrap Monster Price Index.
North America Prices
All copper scrap categories except Cu/Al Radiator Ends in the region recorded increase. Cu/Al Radiator Ends prices were flat on the Index.
The biggest increase in prices over the prior week was witnessed in Xmas Lights, whose prices edged higher by 3.57% from $0.28 per Lb to $0.29 per Lb. The weekly price movement for Xmas Lights scrap is shown in the below graph:
The other copper scrap varieties to record notable increase in prices include Cu/Al Radiators/Fe and Sealed Units, which recorded weekly jump in prices by 2.72% and 2.56% respectively.
The prices of Starters and Cu/Al Radiators were up by 2.50% and 2.44% respectively.
#1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery recorded the least increase in prices. The commodity’s prices edged higher by 0.94% during the week.
USA East Coast Prices
The prices of all copper scrap categories in the region, except Cu/Al Radiator Ends, witnessed notable jump in prices. Xmas Lights prices posted the biggest increase over the week, recording jump of 3.57% from $0.28 per Lb to $0.29 per Lb.
Cu/Al Radiators/Fe prices were up by 2.72% over the week, rising from $1.84 per Lb to $1.89 per Lb.
The variation in prices over the week for Cu/Al Radiators/Fe is given in the below chart:
A modest increase in prices were seen in Sealed Units and Starters.
The other scrap copper categories that recorded increase in prices included #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, Cu/Al Radiators, #1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #3 Copper- Light Copper, Copper Radiators, #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery, #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery, Harness Wire 35% Recovery, Romex Wire, Heater Cores, Cu Yokes, Alternator, Copper Transformer Scrap and Scrap Electric Motors.
USA Midwest Prices
The copper scrap prices in the region recorded increase.
The biggest jump in prices over the prior week was witnessed in Xmas Lights, whose prices edged higher from $0.27 per Lb to $0.28 per Lb, recording week-on-week increase of 3.70%.
The other copper scrap varieties to record notable increase in prices include Cu/Al Radiators/Fe and Sealed Units. Cu/Al Radiators/Fe prices surged by 2.75% during the week. The Sealed Units prices were up from $0.38 per Lb to $0.39 per Lb, recording a jump of 2.63%.
A notable increase in prices was seen in Starters and Cu/Al Radiators as well.
The rest of the regional copper scrap categories also reported week-on-week jump in prices.
Meanwhile, the price of Cu/Al Radiator Ends alone remained unchanged over the previous week.
USA West Coast Prices
The copper scrap metal prices in the region witnessed noticeable jump week-on-week.
The scrap categories to record biggest increase in prices from the previous week were Xmas Lights, Cu/Al Radiators/Fe and Sealed Units.
Also, Starters, Cu/Al Radiators, Alternator, Copper Transformers Scrap and Scrap Electric Motors recorded modest positive price variation during the week.
The prices of Copper Radiators and Cu/Al Radiators also recorded weekly jump in prices.
Also, marginal week-on-week increase in prices was reported in Copper Radiators, #3 Copper- Light Copper, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing and #1 Copper Bare Bright.
The other scrap categories to record increase during the week included #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery, #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery, Harness Wire 35% Recovery, Heater Cores, Romex Wire and Cu Yokes.
On the contrary, Cu/Al Radiator Ends prices were flat on the Index.
China Prices
All copper scrap categories in the region, except Scrap Electric Motors and Sealed Units, witnessed weekly price increases.
Heater Cores recorded the biggest jump in prices during the previous week.
The Heater Cores prices edged higher from CNY 31,400 per MT to CNY 31,650 per MT each, recording a weekly jump of 0.80%. The chart provided below depicts the weekly price movement in Heater Cores:
#2 Copper Wire and Tubing reported increase in prices by CNY 450 per MT, from CNY 72,250 per MT during the start of the week to end at $72,700 per MT.
#1 Copper Wire and Tubing scrap also reported 0.61% jump in prices over the week.
Also, #1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery, Cu/Al Radiators, #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery and Copper Transformer Scrap edged higher on the Index.
Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery, Heater Cores, Cu/Al Radiators, #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery, Copper Transformer Scrap, Cu Yokes and Harness Wire 35% Recovery prices also recorded marginal jump on the Index.
Meanwhile, Scrap Electric Motors and Sealed Units were unchanged over the previous week.
India Prices
The scrap commodities in Indian market saw their prices edge higher over the prior week.
The copper sheet cutting scrap prices were up by INR 5,000 per ton over the previous week to close at INR 419,000 per ton on May 15, 2025 on the Scrap Monster Index.
The prices of Copper Armeture, Copper cable scrap, Copper heavy scrap, Copper utensil scrap and Copper wire bars also increased during the previous week.
The weekly chart of Copper wire bars is provided below:
Europe Prices
The prices of all copper scrap commodities such as #1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, Braziery Copper, Copper Dry Bright, Copper Radiators and Copper Tubes held steady during the course of the week.
The chart given below depicts the weekly price movement in Braziery Copper:
LME Copper Market Update
The closing price of LME Copper 3-Month contract stood at USD 9,528.00 per tonne as on May 15, 2025. The LME Copper Cash Settlement contract prices decreased marginally from $9,649.50 a day before to $9,537.50 per tonne.
The LME Copper stocks saw modest decline over the previous day to close at 184,650 tonnes on May 15, 2025, as compared with 185,575 tonnes on May 14, 2025.