By Chinese Scrap Prices Rise as Copper Gains CNY 500/MT; Stainless Steel Slips
Chinese copper, aluminum and brass/bronze scrap prices advanced on August 28, led by CNY 500-per-MT gains in major copper grades. Stainless steel weakened in selected categories, while steel scrap prices remained unchanged.
By Anil Mathews
Published August 31, 2026
Key Points
- #1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing and #2 Copper Wire and Tubing each rose CNY 500 per MT.
- Several aluminum grades gained CNY 50–100 per MT, including E.C. Aluminum Wire, Old Cast and Old Sheet.
- Red Brass and Yellow Brass each increased CNY 100 per MT.
- 310 SS posted the largest stainless steel decline, falling CNY 100 per MT.
- #1 HMS and Cast Iron Scrap remained unchanged.
BEIJING (Scrap Monster): Chinese scrap metal prices mostly recorded notable gains on the ScrapMonster Price Index as of Friday, August 28, 2026. Copper, aluminum and brass/bronze scrap prices moved higher, while stainless steel scrap declined and steel scrap remained steady.
Copper Scrap Prices
Copper scrap prices recorded broad-based gains on the Index.
#1 Copper Bare Bright and #1 Copper Wire and Tubing both surged CNY 500 per MT compared with the previous day. #2 Copper Wire and Tubing also increased CNY 500 per MT.
#1 Insulated Copper Wire with 85% Recovery climbed CNY 250 per MT, while #2 Insulated Copper Wire with 50% Recovery gained CNY 100 per MT.
Copper Transformer Scrap remained flat compared with the previous day.
Cu/Al Radiator scrap jumped CNY 100 per MT, while Harness Wire with 35% Recovery and Cu Yokes each edged higher by CNY 50 per MT.
Heater Cores gained CNY 200 per MT, while Scrap Electric Motors and Sealed Units recorded no change on the Index.
Aluminum Scrap Prices
6063 Extrusions and Aluminum Ingots each increased CNY 100 per MT from the previous day.
Aluminum Radiators and Aluminum Transformers gained CNY 50 per MT each.
E.C. Aluminum Wire, Old Cast and Old Sheet increased CNY 100 per MT on the Index.
UBC and Zorba 90% INF each rose CNY 50 per MT from the previous day's prices.
Steel Scrap Prices
#1 HMS prices held steady on the Index.
Cast Iron Scrap also recorded no change.
Stainless Steel Scrap Prices
201 SS, 304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning and Shred SS recorded no change from the previous day's prices.
309 SS and 316 SS Solid each declined CNY 50 per MT.
310 SS posted the largest stainless steel move, falling CNY 100 per MT.
Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices
Brass and bronze scrap prices in China recorded a modest increase on the Index.
Brass Radiator gained CNY 50 per MT.
Red Brass and Yellow Brass each edged higher by CNY 100 per MT.
