Chinese Scrap Market Sees Mixed Price Action on the Index– May 19, 2026

Stainless steel scrap prices dipped, whereas steel scrap prices held steady on the Index.

BEIJING (Scrap Monster): The Chinese copper, aluminum, and brass/bronze scrap prices recorded modest gains on the ScrapMonster Price Index as of Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Stainless steel scrap prices dipped, whereas steel scrap prices held steady on the Index.

Copper: Broad-based surge
Aluminum: Consistent upward movement
Brass/Bronze: Slight increase
Stainless Steel: Edged lower
Steel: Stable / unchanged

Copper Scrap Prices

Copper scrap prices saw broad-based gains on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

#1 Copper Bare Bright and #1 Copper Wire and Tubing both jumped by CNY 200 per MT compared to the previous day. Also, #2 Copper Wire and Tubing edged higher by CNY 200 per MT.

#1 Insulated Copper Wire with 85% recovery climbed CNY 100 per MT, whereas #2 Insulated Copper Wire (50% recovery) recorded no variation on the Index.

Copper Transformer scrap and Cu Yokes rprices held steady on the Index.

The prices of Cu/Al Radiator and Harness Wire (35% recovery) were unmoved on a daily basis.

Heater Cores gained CNY 100 per MT, whereas Scrap Electric Motors and Sealed Units prices saw no change on the Index.

In short, the copper scrap market displayed slight upward momentum across select categories.

Aluminum Scrap Prices

6063 Extrusions prices jumped CNY 150 per MT from the previous day.

Aluminum Ingots prices also increased by CNY 150 per MT.

The prices of Aluminum Radiators and Aluminum Transformers were up by CNY 50 per MT each on the Index.

E.C Aluminum Wire prices inched higher by CNY 150 per MT on the Index.

Old Cast and Old Sheet prices were up by CNY 150 per MT as of May 19, 2026.

UBC and Zorba 90% INF prices reported slight increases by CNY 50 per MT each from the previous day’s price.

Steel Scrap Prices

#1 HMS prices held steady as of May 19, 2026.

Cast Iron Scrap reported no change in prices.

Stainless Steel Scrap Prices

201 SS: Recorded no variation
304 SS Solid: Held steady
304 SS Turning: Flat trend
309 SS: Edged lower by CNY 50 per MT

310 SS prices recorded a decline of CNY 100 per MT as of Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

316 SS Solid prices were down by CNY 50 per MT over the previous day’s prices.

In the meantime, Shred SS prices remained flat on the Index.

Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices

The Brass/Bronze Scrap prices in China recorded a modest jump as of May 19, 2026.

Brass Radiator: Witnessed no change
Red Brass: Edged higher by CNY 50 per MT
Yellow Brass: Up by CNY 50 per MT