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Chinese Scrap Metal Prices: Copper Rebounds CNY 350/MT, Stainless Falls – November 4, 2026
Chinese scrap metal prices posted mixed movements on November 4, led by a CNY 350/MT rebound across three major clean copper grades. Brass/bronze also advanced, while stainless steel declined by up to CNY 100/MT. Aluminum and steel benchmarks remained unchanged on the ScrapMonster Price Index.
By Anil Mathews
Published: November 5, 2026
Market data: November 4, 2026
Market at a Glance
- Copper: ▲ CNY 50–350/MT across seven grades; five unchanged.
- Aluminum: → Flat across all nine reported grades.
- Brass/Bronze: ▲ CNY 50/MT across all three grades.
- Stainless Steel: ▼ CNY 50–100/MT across six grades; 201 SS unchanged.
- Steel: → Flat for #1 HMS and Cast Iron Scrap.
BEIJING (Scrap Monster): Chinese scrap metal buying benchmarks recorded a mixed performance on Wednesday, November 4, as copper and brass/bronze recovered while stainless steel weakened on the ScrapMonster Price Index.
#1 Copper Bare Bright and #1 and #2 Copper Wire and Tubing each advanced CNY 350 per metric ton, recovering part of the previous session's sharp losses. Brass/bronze rose across all three reported grades, while aluminum and ferrous scrap remained unchanged.
ScrapMonster Edge: Copper Rebounds, but Remains CNY 1,050/MT Lower Over Two Sessions
China's three major clean copper benchmarks recovered CNY 350/MT on November 4, following their CNY 1,400/MT decline on November 3.
The rebound recovered just 25% of Tuesday's losses, leaving each grade CNY 1,050/MT below its November 2 closing level.
Other copper grades also posted partial recoveries, including Heater Cores, which gained CNY 250/MT after falling CNY 600/MT the previous day.
Meanwhile, stainless steel moved lower across six grades, contrasting with the improvement in copper and brass/bronze.
Market takeaway: Wednesday's rebound does not erase the previous session's copper losses. For processors and traders, the two-session comparison reveals continued weakness in clean copper benchmarks, while stainless steel has begun moving in the opposite direction.
Copper Scrap Prices
Copper scrap prices advanced across seven of the 12 reported grades, led by CNY 350/MT gains in three major clean copper benchmarks:
- #1 Copper Bare Bright
- #1 Copper Wire and Tubing
- #2 Copper Wire and Tubing
Heater Cores increased CNY 250/MT, while #1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery gained CNY 150/MT.
#2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery and Cu/Al Radiators each advanced CNY 50/MT.
Unchanged: Copper Transformer Scrap, Cu Yokes, Harness Wire 35% Recovery, Scrap Electric Motors and Sealed Units.
Aluminum Scrap Prices
Aluminum scrap prices held steady across all nine reported grades, following two consecutive sessions of declines.
Unchanged: 6063 Aluminum Extrusions, Aluminum Ingots, Aluminum Radiators, Aluminum Transformers, E.C. Aluminum Wire, Old Cast, Old Sheet, Used Beverage Cans (UBC) and Zorba 90% INF.
No additional aluminum buying-benchmark adjustments were reported on November 4.
Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices
Chinese brass and bronze scrap prices recovered modestly after declining in the previous session.
Brass Radiator, Red Brass and Yellow Brass each increased CNY 50/MT.
All three reported grades posted gains, although the increases were smaller than their respective November 3 declines.
Stainless Steel Scrap Prices
Stainless steel prices weakened across six of the seven reported grades.
Five grades declined CNY 50/MT each: 304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning, 309 SS, 316 SS Solid and Shredded Stainless Steel.
310 SS recorded the largest stainless steel decline at CNY 100/MT.
Unchanged: 201 SS.
Steel Scrap Prices
Chinese ferrous scrap benchmarks remained unchanged despite the mixed movements across nonferrous categories.
Unchanged: #1 HMS and Cast Iron Scrap.
Neither reported steel grade registered a day-over-day adjustment on the Index.
Pricing scope: This report covers day-over-day changes in ScrapMonster Chinese scrap buying benchmarks, expressed in Chinese yuan per metric ton (CNY/MT). Actual purchasing quotations vary by grade, recovery, material quality, quantity, location and buyer. Current proprietary Premium buying-price levels are not disclosed.
