Chinese Scrap Prices Mixed as Copper and Aluminum Gain, Stainless Steel Falls
Chinese copper and aluminum scrap prices advanced on August 31, led by CNY 250-per-MT gains in major copper grades and CNY 150 increases across several aluminum grades. Stainless steel declined, while steel and brass/bronze remained unchanged.
Key Points
- #1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing and #2 Copper Wire and Tubing each rose CNY 250 per MT.
- Several aluminum grades gained CNY 150 per MT, including 6063 Extrusions, E.C. Aluminum Wire, Old Cast and Old Sheet.
- 310 SS posted the largest stainless steel decline, falling CNY 150 per MT.
- 309 SS and 316 SS Solid each declined CNY 100 per MT.
- Steel and brass/bronze scrap prices remained unchanged.
BEIJING (Scrap Monster): Chinese scrap metal prices recorded mixed performance on the ScrapMonster Price Index as of Monday, August 31, 2026.
- Copper: Slight increase across select grades.
- Aluminum: Broad-based increase.
- Brass/Bronze: No variation.
- Stainless Steel: Moved lower.
- Steel: Stable prices.
Copper Scrap Prices
#1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing and #2 Copper Wire and Tubing each increased CNY 250 per MT from the previous day.
#1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery rose CNY 100 per MT.
#2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery, Copper Transformer, Cu Yokes, Cu/Al Radiator scrap and Harness Wire 35% Recovery recorded no change.
Heater Cores increased CNY 50 per MT on the Index.
Scrap Electric Motors and Sealed Units remained flat compared with the previous day's prices.
Aluminum Scrap Prices
6063 Aluminum Extrusions and Aluminum Ingots each registered a day-over-day increase of CNY 150 per metric ton.
Aluminum Radiator and Aluminum Transformer prices each rose CNY 50 per MT. E.C. Aluminum Wire posted a larger increase, gaining CNY 150 per metric ton from the previous day.
Old Cast Aluminum and Old Sheet Aluminum also increased CNY 150 per metric ton on the index assessment date. Used Beverage Cans (UBC) and Zorba 90% INF each edged higher by CNY 50 per MT from the previous day's levels.
Steel Scrap Prices
#1 HMS held steady on the Index.
Cast Iron Scrap also recorded no price change.
Stainless Steel Scrap Prices
- 201 SS, 304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning and Shred SS declined CNY 50 per MT.
- 309 SS and 316 SS Solid each fell CNY 100 per MT.
- 310 SS posted the largest decline, falling CNY 150 per MT.
Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices
Brass and bronze scrap prices in China recorded no variation on the Index.
- Brass Radiator recorded no change.
- Red Brass and Yellow Brass remained unchanged.