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China Copper Scrap Drops CNY 1,000/MT as Aluminum Rises
Chinese scrap benchmarks diverged sharply on October 22 as major clean copper grades fell CNY 1,000 per metric ton. Selected aluminum and stainless steel grades moved higher, brass/bronze weakened and steel remained unchanged on the ScrapMonster Price Index.
Report date: October 23, 2026
Market data: October 22, 2026
Market at a Glance
- Copper: Major clean grades ↓CNY 1,000/MT.
- Aluminum: Selected benchmark grades ↑CNY 50-100/MT.
- Stainless Steel: 309 SS and 316 SS Solid ↑CNY 50/MT; 310 SS ↑CNY 100/MT.
- Brass/Bronze: Major listed grades ↓CNY 100-200/MT.
- Steel: → Flat.
BEIJING (Scrap Monster): Chinese scrap metal prices recorded another mixed session on Thursday, October 22, 2026, with copper weakening sharply while aluminum and selected stainless steel grades advanced on the ScrapMonster Price Index.
#1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing and #2 Copper Wire and Tubing each fell CNY 1,000/MT, extending the clean-copper decline recorded during the previous session.
Aluminum moved in the opposite direction. Several major grades increased by CNY 100/MT, while UBC, Zorba 90% NF, Aluminum Radiators and Aluminum Transformers gained CNY 50/MT.
Stainless steel was more selective. 309 SS and 316 SS Solid increased CNY 50/MT and 310 SS gained CNY 100/MT, while 201 SS, 304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning and Shred SS were unchanged.
Brass and bronze moved lower, while #1 HMS and Cast Iron Scrap remained flat.
Benchmark buying-price move: ScrapMonster reports benchmark market movements. Actual transaction prices can vary by grade, quality, quantity, buyer and location.
ScrapMonster Edge: Clean Copper Has Lost CNY 1,150/MT in Two Sessions
The scale of the copper pullback becomes clearer when Thursday's move is combined with Wednesday's decline.
The three major clean copper grades fell CNY 150/MT on October 21 and another CNY 1,000/MT on October 22.
| Market Date | Clean Copper Move | Two-Session Running Move |
|---|---|---|
| October 21 | ↓CNY 150/MT | -CNY 150/MT |
| October 22 | ↓CNY 1,000/MT | -CNY 1,150/MT |
Thursday's decline was also broader than the previous session. Insulated copper wire, Cu Yokes, harness wire, motors, sealed units, radiators and heater cores all moved lower.
At the same time, aluminum continued to strengthen, widening the short-term divergence between China's copper and aluminum scrap markets.
Copper Scrap Prices Fall Sharply
Copper posted the steepest losses of the session.
| Copper Grade | October 22 Change |
|---|---|
| #1 Copper Bare Bright | ↓CNY 1,000/MT |
| #1 Copper Wire and Tubing | ↓CNY 1,000/MT |
| #2 Copper Wire and Tubing | ↓CNY 1,000/MT |
| #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery | ↓CNY 500/MT |
| Heater Cores | ↓CNY 400/MT |
| #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery | ↓CNY 200/MT |
| Cu/Al Radiators | ↓CNY 200/MT |
Cu Yokes, Harness Wire 35% Recovery, Scrap Electric Motors and Sealed Units each declined by CNY 50/MT.
Copper Transformer Scrap was unchanged.
The session therefore moved beyond a clean-copper adjustment and developed into a broader decline across multiple copper-bearing recovery grades.
Aluminum Scrap Prices Move Higher
Aluminum moved against the broader copper weakness.
6063 Extrusions, Aluminum Ingots, E.C. Aluminum Wire, Old Cast and Old Sheet each gained CNY 100/MT.
Aluminum Radiators and Aluminum Transformers increased CNY 50/MT.
UBC and Zorba 90% NF also rose CNY 50/MT.
Two-Day Aluminum Follow-Through
Several aluminum benchmarks also gained during the previous session.
6063 Extrusions, Aluminum Ingots, E.C. Aluminum Wire, Old Cast and Old Sheet rose CNY 50/MT on October 21 before adding another CNY 100/MT on October 22.
Those grades have therefore advanced a combined CNY 150/MT over the two sessions.
Selected Stainless Steel Grades Extend Gains
Stainless steel remained firm, although Thursday's advance was narrower than the broad gains recorded a day earlier.
| Stainless Grade | October 22 Change |
|---|---|
| 201 SS | → Flat |
| 304 SS Solid | → Flat |
| 304 SS Turning | → Flat |
| 309 SS | ↑CNY 50/MT |
| 310 SS | ↑CNY 100/MT |
| 316 SS Solid | ↑CNY 50/MT |
| Shred SS | → Flat |
The strongest stainless move again came from 310 SS.
Combined with its CNY 350/MT increase on October 21, 310 SS has now gained CNY 450/MT over two sessions.
309 SS and 316 SS Solid have each gained a combined CNY 350/MT over the same two-day period.
Brass and Bronze Move Lower
Brass and bronze weakened after holding steady during the previous session.
Brass Radiator declined CNY 100/MT.
Red Brass and Yellow Brass each fell CNY 200/MT.
The move aligns brass more closely with the day's copper weakness after the alloy category avoided Wednesday's clean-copper decline.
Steel Scrap Prices Remain Unchanged
Steel again showed no daily movement.
#1 HMS and Cast Iron Scrap both maintained their previous-session benchmark levels.
The flat reading makes steel the most stable of the major Chinese scrap categories over the latest two sessions.
ScrapMonster Market Read
October 22 widened the divergence already visible in China's scrap market.
Copper weakened substantially, with clean grades losing CNY 1,000/MT and the decline spreading into insulated wire, radiators and other recovery grades.
Aluminum continued higher across several key benchmarks. Stainless steel also retained upward momentum, although Thursday's gains were concentrated in the higher-alloy 309 SS, 310 SS and 316 SS grades rather than extending across the full category.
Brass followed copper lower, while steel remained unchanged.
For processors and traders, the important signal is the widening gap between copper and aluminum: several major aluminum grades have added CNY 150/MT over two sessions while clean copper has lost CNY 1,150/MT over the same period.
What to Watch Next
Copper: A CNY 1,150/MT two-session decline has materially changed the short-term direction of clean copper. The next benchmark will show whether selling pressure begins to stabilize.
Aluminum: Two consecutive advances in several major grades provide stronger follow-through than Wednesday's initial move.
Stainless steel: The market remains positive, but participation narrowed on Thursday. Watch whether the currently flat 201 and 304 grades rejoin the advance.
Brass: The move lower shows that copper weakness has now spread into the major brass benchmarks.
Steel: Continued stability leaves the category without a clear near-term directional signal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did major clean copper scrap fall in China on October 22?
#1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing and #2 Copper Wire and Tubing each declined CNY 1,000/MT.
How much have the major clean copper grades fallen over two sessions?
They declined CNY 150/MT on October 21 and another CNY 1,000/MT on October 22, for a combined two-session loss of CNY 1,150/MT.
Which aluminum scrap grades gained the most?
6063 Extrusions, Aluminum Ingots, E.C. Aluminum Wire, Old Cast and Old Sheet each gained CNY 100/MT on October 22.
Which stainless grade recorded the largest increase?
310 SS increased CNY 100/MT, while 309 SS and 316 SS Solid each gained CNY 50/MT.
Did all stainless steel grades increase?
No. 201 SS, 304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning and Shred SS remained unchanged.
Did Chinese steel scrap prices change?
No. #1 HMS and Cast Iron Scrap remained unchanged.
