Copper Scrap Prices: Weekly Market Report- May 23, 2025
The closing price of LME Copper 3-Month contract stood at USD 9,461.50 per tonne as of May 22, 2025.
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):The below report analyses the weekly price trends of scrap copper across various regional markets during the past week (May 16 to May 22, 2025) on the Scrap Monster Price Index.
North America Prices
The copper scrap prices in the region recorded mixed trend, when matched with the week before that. The prices of majority of the commodities held steady, while the remaining edged higher from prior week’s price levels.
The biggest increase in prices over the prior week was witnessed in #3 Copper- Light Copper, whose prices edged higher from $4.15 per Lb to $4.27 per Lb. The other copper scrap varieties to record notable jump in prices include #2 Copper Wire and Tubing and #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, which recorded price increases by 2.82% and 2.76% respectively.
The weekly price movement for #3 Copper- Light Copper is shown in the below chart:
The other copper scrap categories to witness notable jump in prices was #1 Copper Bare Bright, whose prices registered a week-on-week increase by 2.70%.
Also, Copper Radiators, #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery prices, Romex Wire, #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery, Harness Wire and Heater Cores recorded weekly jump in prices.
The rest of the copper scrap categories held steady on the Index during the week ended May 22, 2025.
USA East Coast Prices
The prices of most copper scrap categories witnessed no change in the region. #3 Copper- Light Copper prices posted the biggest increase over the week.
The prices of #2 Copper Wire and Tubing and #1 Copper Wire and Tubing too recorded jump over the week.
The other scrap commodities whose prices witnessed week-on-week increase during the week included #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #1 Copper Bare Bright, Copper Radiators, #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery, Romex Wire, #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery, Harness Wire and Heater Cores.
The weekly price chart of Heater Cores is provided below:
Meanwhile, the prices of all other commodities were flat on the Index.
USA Midwest Prices
The copper scrap prices in the region witnessed mixed trend, when matched with the week before that. The prices of majority of the commodities remained constant.
The largest increase in prices over the prior week was witnessed in #3 Copper- Light Copper, whose prices edged higher from $4.05 per Lb to $4.17 per Lb.
The other copper scrap varieties to record notable jump in prices include #2 Copper Wire and Tubing and #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, which recorded price increases by 2.89% and 2.82% respectively.
The #1 Copper Bare Bright prices were up from $4.35 per Lb to $4.47 per Lb during the course of the week.
The weekly price movement for #1 Copper Bare Bright is shown in the below chart:
Also, Copper Radiators, #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery prices, Romex Wire, #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery, Harness Wire and Heater Cores prices inched higher during the week ended May 22, 2025.
Meanwhile, the prices of Cu/Al Radiators, Alternator, Copper Transformer Scrap, Cu Yokes, Cu/Al Radiator Ends, Cu/Al Radiators/Fe, Scrap Electric Motors, Sealed Units, Starters and Xmas Lights held steady over the previous week.
USA West Coast Prices
The prices of most copper scrap categories witnessed no change in the region. However, a few reported increase over the previous week.
Harness Wire 35% Recovery prices posted the biggest increase over the week.
The prices of #2 Insulated Copper Wire and Romex Wire too increased modestly over the week.
The other copper scrap categories to witness increase in prices were #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery, Copper Radiators, #3 Copper- Light Copper, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, #1 Copper Bare Bright and Heater Cores.
The prices of Cu/Al Radiators, Alternator, Copper Transformer Scrap, Cu Yokes, Cu/Al Radiator Ends, Cu/Al Radiators/Fe, Scrap Electric Motors, Sealed Units, Starters and Xmas Lights were flat over the previous week.
China Prices
The copper scrap prices recorded mixed trend over the previous week.
The #2 Copper Wire and Tubing prices recorded a decline, falling from the previous week’s prices by 0.35% as of May 22, 2025. The price of the commodity ended the week at CNY 72,200 per MT. The weekly price chart of the commodity for the week ending May 22, 2025 is given below:
#1 Copper Wire and Tubing prices edged lower by 0.34% week-on-week to close at CNY 73,200 per MT during the week.
The prices of #1 Copper Bare Bright also were down by 0.32%, when compared with the week before.
The other commodities to register weekly decline in prices were #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery and Heater Cores.
All the other commodities held steady on the Index.
India Prices
The scrap commodities in Indian market recorded decline, upon comparison with the previous week.
The Copper sheet cutting prices recorded the biggest fall, with the prices of the commodity recording decline by 0.48%. The prices of the commodity inched lower from INR 420,000 per Ton to INR 418,000 per Ton. The weekly chart depicting the price movement in Copper sheet cutting is provided below:
The prices of Copper armeture, Copper cable scrap, Copper heavy scrap, Copper utensil scrap and Copper wire bars (HCL *) were also up on the Index during the week ended May 22, 2025.
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.
LME Copper Market Update
The closing price of LME Copper 3-Month contract stood at USD 9,461.50 per tonne as of May 22, 2025. The LME Copper Cash Settlement contract prices decreased marginally from $9,532.50 a day before to $9,493.00 per tonne.
The LME Copper stocks saw marginal decline over the previous day to close at 166,525 tonnes of May 22, 2025, when compared with 168,825 tonnes a day before.