Copper Scrap Prices: Weekly Market Report- May 2, 2025
May 02, 2025 04:20:51 PM
The closing price of LME Copper 3-Month contract stood at USD 9,185.00 per tonne as on May 1, 2025.
By Paul Ploumis
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The below report analyses the weekly price trends of scrap copper across various regional markets during the period from April 24 to May 1, 2025 on the Scrap Monster Price Index.
North America Prices
The copper scrap prices in the region recorded decline across the board.
The biggest dip in prices over the prior week was witnessed in Xmas Lights, whose prices edged lower by 6.67% from $0.30 per Lb to $0.28 per Lb. The weekly price movement for Xmas Lights scrap is shown in the below graph:
The other copper scrap varieties to record notable decline in prices include #3 Copper-Light Copper and #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, which recorded weekly drop in prices by 5.44% and 5.32% respectively.
The prices of #1 Copper Wire and Tubing and #1 Copper Bare Bright were up by 5.21% and 5.10% respectively.
Also, the prices of all other copper scrap commodities in the region recorded decline over the prior week.
USA East Coast Prices
The prices of all copper scrap categories in the region witnessed notable fall in prices. Xmas Lights prices posted the biggest decline over the week, recording a decline of 6.67% from $0.30 per Lb to $0.28 per Lb.
#3 Copper-Light Copper prices were down by 5.44% over the week, falling from $4.41 per Lb to $4.17 per Lb.
The variation in prices over the week for #3 Copper-Light Copper is given in the below chart:
A modest decline in prices were seen in #2 Copper Wire and Tubing, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing, and #1 Copper Bare Bright.
The other scrap copper categories that recorded noteworthy dip in prices included Sealed Units, Starters, Scrap Electric Motors, Copper Radiators, and Harness Wire 35% Recovery.
The least jump in prices was seen in Cu/Al Radiators/Fe, whose prices registered a marginal decline of 1.60%.
USA Midwest Prices
The copper scrap prices in the region recorded decline across the board.
The biggest drop in prices over the prior week was witnessed in Xmas Lights, whose prices edged lower from $0.29 per Lb to $0.27 per Lb, recording week-on-week decrease of 6.90%.
The other copper scrap varieties to record notable decline in prices include #3 Copper- Light Copper and #2 Copper Wire and Tubing. #3 Copper- Light Copper prices recorded a decline of 5.57% during the week. The #2 Copper Wire and Tubing prices were down from $4.41 per Lb to $4.17 per Lb, recording a decline of 5.44%.
A notable decline in prices was seen in $1 Copper Bare Bright, Sealed Units, Starters, and Scrap Electric Motors.
The rest of the regional copper scrap categories also reported week-on-week dip in prices.
USA West Coast Prices
The copper scrap metal prices in the region witnessed noticeable decline week-on-week.
The scrap categories to record biggest decline in prices from the previous week were Xmas Lights, #3 Copper- Light Copper and #2 Copper Wire and Tubing.
Also, $1 Copper Bare Bright, Sealed Units, Starters, and Scrap Electric Motors recorded modest negative price movement during the week.
The prices of Copper Radiators, Harness Wire 35% Recovery, #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery, Romex Wire, and #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery also recorded decline.
Meanwhile, marginal week-on-week increase in prices was reported in Alternator, Copper Transformer Scrap, Cu/Al Radiator Ends, Cu Yokes, Cu/Al Radiators/Fe, Cu/Al Radiators, and Heater Cores.
China Prices
Most of the copper scrap categories in the region witnessed weekly price declines.
Heater Cores recorded the biggest drop in prices during the previous week. The prices of the commodity edged lower by 0.32% from CNY 31,400 per MT to CNY 31,300 per MT each.
#2 Copper Wire and Tubing reported decline in prices by CNY 200 per MT, falling from CNY 71,950 per MT during the start of the week to end at $71,750 per MT.
#1 Copper Wire and Tubing also reported 0.27% decline in prices over the week.
Also, #1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery, #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery, and Cu/Al Radiators prices recorded week-on-weel decline.
In the meantime, no weekly variation in prices were seen in Copper Transformer Scrap, Cu Yokes, Harness Wire 35% Recovery, Scrap Electric Motors and Sealed Units. The weekly price chart of Copper Transformer Scrap for the week ended May 1, 2025 is provided below:
India Prices
The scrap commodities in Indian market saw their prices edge lower over the prior week.
The copper sheet cutting scrap prices were down by INR 29,000 per ton over the previous week to close at INR 388,000 per ton on May 1, 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 decreased during the week ended May 1, 2025.
The weekly price chart of Copper cable scrap 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 9,185.00 per tonne as on May 1, 2025. The LME Copper Cash Settlement contract prices decreased marginally from $9,204.00 a day before to $9,195.00 per tonne.
The LME Copper stocks saw modest decline over the previous day to close at 197,700 tonnes on May 1, 2025, as compared with 200,150 tonnes on April 30, 2025.
