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Chinese Scrap Metal Prices: Aluminum Gains CNY 200/MT, Copper Rises – November 12, 2026
Chinese scrap metal prices advanced selectively on November 12, led by gains of up to CNY 200/MT across all nine reported aluminum grades. Three clean copper grades rose CNY 50/MT, while brass/bronze, stainless steel and ferrous scrap prices remained unchanged.
Publication date: November 13, 2026 | Market data: November 12, 2026
Market at a Glance
Copper: ▲ CNY 50/MT across three principal clean grades; nine unchanged.
Aluminum: ▲ CNY 100–200/MT across all nine reported grades, led by E.C. Aluminum Wire, 6063 Extrusions and three others.
Brass/Bronze: → Unchanged across all three reported grades.
Stainless Steel: → Unchanged across all seven reported grades.
Steel: → Unchanged for #1 HMS and Cast Iron Scrap.
BEIJING (Scrap Monster): Chinese scrap metal buying benchmarks moved higher across copper and aluminum categories on Thursday, November 12, 2026, according to the ScrapMonster Price Index.
Aluminum recorded the broadest gains, with every reported grade increasing by CNY 100–200 per metric ton. Three major clean copper grades advanced CNY 50/MT, while insulated wire and other copper-bearing materials held steady. Brass/bronze, stainless steel and steel scrap prices were unchanged.
ScrapMonster Edge: Aluminum's Recovery Extends but Earlier Losses Persist
Two consecutive sessions of aluminum gains have not erased Tuesday's decline. Five grades that fell CNY 800/MT on November 10 recovered a combined CNY 300/MT over November 11–12, leaving them down CNY 500/MT across three sessions. Four other grades recovered CNY 150/MT after falling CNY 400/MT, leaving a net decline of CNY 250/MT.
Operator takeaway: Aluminum buying benchmarks are recovering, but cumulative movements remain negative over the three-session comparison. Clean copper continued higher at a slower pace, while unchanged brass, stainless steel and ferrous prices show that the improvement was concentrated in selected nonferrous categories.
Copper Scrap Prices
▲ CNY 50/MT | Three grades increased; nine unchanged
Copper scrap prices registered modest gains across three principal clean grades, following considerably larger increases in the previous session.
▲ CNY 50/MT: #1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing and #2 Copper Wire and Tubing.
Unchanged: #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery, #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery, Copper Transformer Scrap, Cu Yokes, Cu/Al Radiators, Harness Wire 35% Recovery, Heater Cores, Scrap Electric Motors and Sealed Units.
The increases were concentrated in clean copper. Insulated wire, radiators and other copper-bearing materials maintained their November 11 levels.
Aluminum Scrap Prices
▲ CNY 100–200/MT | All nine reported grades increased
Aluminum scrap prices strengthened across every listed grade for the second consecutive trading session, with five grades leading the advances at CNY 200/MT.
▲ CNY 200/MT: 6063 Extrusions, Aluminum Ingots, E.C. Aluminum Wire, Old Cast and Old Sheet.
▲ CNY 100/MT: Aluminum Radiators, Aluminum Transformers, UBC and Zorba 90% INF.
The gains extended the recovery that began on November 11, although the reported increases remained smaller than the declines recorded earlier in the week.
Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices
→ Unchanged | All three reported grades
Chinese brass and bronze scrap prices held steady on November 12, following increases across the category in the previous session.
Unchanged: Brass Radiator Scrap, Red Brass and Yellow Brass.
Stainless Steel Scrap Prices
→ Unchanged | All seven reported grades
Stainless steel scrap benchmarks recorded no day-over-day movement following selective declines on November 11.
Unchanged: 201 SS, 304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning, 309 SS, 310 SS, 316 SS Solid and Shredded Stainless Steel.
Steel Scrap Prices
→ Unchanged | Both reported ferrous grades
Chinese steel scrap prices remained unchanged during the November 12 session.
Unchanged: #1 HMS and Cast Iron Scrap.
Pricing scope: This report presents day-over-day changes in Chinese ScrapMonster buying benchmarks, expressed in Chinese yuan per metric ton (CNY/MT). Actual buying quotations may vary by region, material quality, recovery, quantity and buyer. Current absolute Premium buying prices are not disclosed in this public report.
