Chinese Scrap Metals See Varied Price Movements on the Index– March 5, 2026
Daily Scrap Metal Price Report | 2026-03-06 06:12:09
#1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery prices were down by CNY 250 per MT.
By Anil Mathews
BEIJING (Scrap Monster): The Chinese scrap metal prices recorded mixed performance on the ScrapMonster Price Index as of Thursday, March 5, 2026.
- Copper: Significant downward momentum
- Aluminum: Across-the-board surge
- Brass/Bronze: Downtrend
- Stainless Steel: Flat trend
- Steel: Stable prices
Copper Scrap Prices
The #1 Copper Bare Bright and #1 Copper Wire and Tubing witnessed a decline in prices of CNY 900 and CNY 500 respectively over the previous day.
The price of #2 Copper Wire and Tubing also edged lower by CNY 500 per MT.
#1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery prices were down by CNY 250 per MT.
The price of #2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery recorded a decline of CNY 100 per MT over the previous day.
Copper Transformer and Cu Yokes scrap prices were down by CNY 50 per MT each on the Index.
Cu/Al Radiator and Heater Cores prices dropped by CNY 100 per MT and CNY 200 per MT respectively as of Thursday, March 5, 2026.
Harness Wire 35% Recovery prices dropped by CNY 50 per MT upon comparison with the prior day’s prices.
Scrap Electric Motors and Sealed Units prices were down by CNY 50 per MT each on the Index.
Aluminum Scrap Prices
6063 Aluminum Extrusions registered a day-on-day price increase of CNY 1,000 per metric ton. Aluminum ingot prices also advanced by CNY 1,000 per metric ton compared with the previous trading session.
Aluminum Radiator and Aluminum Transformer prices each climbed by CNY 500 per metric ton on the Index. Meanwhile, E.C. Aluminum Wire recorded a stronger gain, rising by CNY 1,000 per metric ton as of March 5, 2026.
Within the scrap segment, prices for Old Cast aluminum and Old Sheet aluminum also moved higher by CNY 1,000 per metric ton on the index assessment date. In contrast, Used Beverage Cans (UBC) and Zorba 90% INF grades posted relatively smaller increases, each edging up by CNY 500 per metric ton from the previous day’s levels.
Steel Scrap Prices
#1 HMS prices held steady as of March 5, 2026.
Cast Iron Scrap reported no change in prices.
Stainless Steel Scrap Prices
- 201 SS: Witnessed no change
- 304 SS Solid: Flat trend
- 304 SS Turning: Maintained previous day’s price
- 309 SS: No variation in price
The price of 310 SS witnessed no fluctuation on a daily basis.
316 SS Solid prices held steady on the Index.
Also, Shred SS scrap prices were unchanged as of Thursday, March 5, 2026
Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices
The Brass/Bronze Scrap prices in China recorded a decline as of March 5, 2026.
- Brass Radiator: Dipped by CNY 50 per MT
- Red Brass: Down by CNY 100 per MT
- Yellow Brass: Edged lower by CNY 100 per MT
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Which scrap metal segment in China is most likely to show stronger price recovery in the near term?
Frequently Asked Questions
- What was the overall trend in Chinese scrap metal prices on March 5, 2026?
The market displayed mixed performance, with copper and brass/bronze prices declining, aluminum prices rising across most categories, and steel and stainless steel remaining stable.
- Which copper scrap grade recorded the largest decline?
#1 Copper Bare Bright posted the biggest drop, falling by CNY 900 per metric ton compared with the previous day.
- How did aluminum scrap prices perform?
Aluminum scrap prices recorded across-the-board gains, with several grades—including 6063 Aluminum Extrusions, aluminum ingots, Old Cast aluminum, and Old Sheet aluminum—rising by CNY 1,000 per MT.
