Chinese Scrap Metal Market Sees Widespread Price Drop on the Index – May 15, 2026

BEIJING (Scrap Monster): Chinese scrap metal prices posted a marked decline on the ScrapMonster Price Index as of Friday, May 15, 2026.

• Copper: Strong downward momentum

• Aluminum: Broad-based declines across all categories

• Brass/Bronze: Witnessed weakening trend

• Stainless Steel: Steep day-on-day drop

• Steel: Remained stable without any change

Copper Scrap Prices

Copper scrap prices on the ScrapMonster Price Index declined across multiple categories on Friday, May 15, 2026, compared with the previous day.

·         #1 Copper Bare Bright and #1 Copper Wire and Tubing: down by CNY 2,000 per MT each

·         #2 Copper Wire and Tubing: decreased by CNY 2,000 per MT

·         #1 Insulated Copper Wire (85% Recovery): fell by CNY 1,000 per MT

·         #2 Insulated Copper Wire (50% Recovery): dropped by CNY 500 per MT

·         Copper Transformer Scrap: saw a dip of CNY 100 per MT

·         Cu Yokes: edged lower by CNY 100 per MT

·         Cu/Al Radiators: declined by CNY 500 per MT

·         Heater Cores: decreased by CNY 850 per MT

·         Harness Wire (35% Recovery): slipped by CNY 100 per MT

·         Scrap Electric Motors and Sealed Units: recorded a dip of CNY 50 per MT each in prices

Aluminum Scrap Prices

Aluminum scrap prices on the ScrapMonster Price Index moved lower across most categories on May 15, 2026, reflecting a broad-based day-on-day decline.

·         6063 Aluminum Extrusions and Aluminum Ingots: fell by CNY 350 per metric ton each

·         Aluminum Radiators and Aluminum Transformers: declined by CNY 150 per metric ton each

·         E.C. Aluminum Wire: recorded a sharper drop of CNY 350 per metric ton

·         Old Cast Aluminum and Old Sheet Aluminum: decreased by CNY 350 per metric ton each

·         Used Beverage Cans (UBC) and Zorba 90% INF: posted comparatively smaller losses of CNY 150 per metric ton each

Steel Scrap Prices

#1 HMS prices held steady as of May 15, 2026.

Cast Iron Scrap reported no change in prices.

Stainless Steel Scrap Prices

Stainless steel scrap prices on the ScrapMonster Price Index registered consistent day-on-day declines across key grades on Friday, May 15, 2026.

• 201 SS: held steady

• 304 SS Solid: dropped by CNY 50 per MT

• 304 SS Turning: fell by CNY 50 per MT

• 309 SS: declined by CNY 100 per MT

• 310 SS: recorded a sharper fall of CNY 150 per MT

• 316 SS Solid: edged lower by CNY 100 per MT

• Shredded Stainless Steel: down by CNY 50 per MT

Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices

The Brass/Bronze Scrap prices in China recorded a decline as of May 15, 2026.

• Brass Radiator: Dipped by CNY 400 per MT

• Red Brass: Down by CNY 500 per MT

• Yellow Brass: Edged lower by CNY 500 per MT

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