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China Copper Scrap Falls CNY 750/MT as Aluminum Grades Rebound
Chinese scrap prices showed a mixed trend on September 15, with major clean copper grades falling CNY 750 per metric ton while selected aluminum grades gained CNY 50 per metric ton. Brass/bronze and selected stainless steel grades also moved lower, while steel remained unchanged.
By Anil Mathews
Published September 16, 2026
Market data: September 15, 2026
Key Points
- #1 Copper Bare Bright and #1/#2 Copper Wire and Tubing each fell CNY 750 per MT.
- 6063 Aluminum Extrusions, Aluminum Ingots, E.C. Aluminum Wire, Old Cast and Old Sheet each gained CNY 50 per MT.
- Red Brass and Yellow Brass declined CNY 50 per MT.
- 309 SS and 316 SS Solid fell CNY 50 per MT, while 310 SS declined CNY 100 per MT.
- #1 HMS and Cast Iron Scrap remained unchanged.
BEIJING (Scrap Monster): Chinese scrap metal prices posted a mixed performance on the ScrapMonster Price Index on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
Copper weakened across several grades for a second consecutive session, although the declines were smaller than the previous day’s sharp losses. Selected aluminum grades moved higher after Monday’s broad decline, while brass/bronze and selected stainless steel grades edged lower. Steel remained flat.
Copper Scrap Prices
Copper scrap prices declined across several major grades on the ScrapMonster China Copper Scrap Price Index.
#1 Copper Bare Bright, #1 Copper Wire and Tubing and #2 Copper Wire and Tubing each fell CNY 750 per MT.
#1 Insulated Copper Wire 85% Recovery declined CNY 350 per MT.
#2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery and Cu/Al Radiators each dropped CNY 100 per MT.
Heater Cores fell CNY 300 per MT, while Harness Wire 35% Recovery declined CNY 50 per MT.
Copper Transformer Scrap, Cu Yokes, Scrap Electric Motors and Sealed Units were unchanged.
Aluminum Scrap Prices
Aluminum scrap showed selective gains on September 15 after broad declines in the previous session.
6063 Aluminum Extrusions and Aluminum Ingots each increased CNY 50 per MT.
E.C. Aluminum Wire, Old Cast and Old Sheet also gained CNY 50 per MT.
Aluminum Radiators, Aluminum Transformers, Used Beverage Cans and Zorba 90% NF remained unchanged.
Steel Scrap Prices
Steel scrap prices remained unchanged on the ScrapMonster China Steel Scrap Price Index.
#1 HMS held steady, while Cast Iron Scrap also recorded no day-over-day movement.
Stainless Steel Scrap Prices
Stainless steel prices showed selective weakness on September 15.
201 SS, 304 SS Solid, 304 SS Turning and Shred SS remained unchanged.
309 SS and 316 SS Solid each declined CNY 50 per MT.
310 SS recorded the largest stainless steel decline, falling CNY 100 per MT.
Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices
Brass and bronze scrap prices also moved modestly lower.
Brass Radiator remained unchanged.
Red Brass and Yellow Brass each declined CNY 50 per MT.
Market Read
The September 15 session showed a split inside China’s non-ferrous scrap market. Copper remained under pressure but declined less sharply than on September 14, when the major clean grades fell CNY 1,300 per MT. Aluminum moved in the opposite direction, with several grades recovering CNY 50 per MT after the previous session’s losses.
Steel remained the most stable part of the tracked market, with both listed grades unchanged for a second consecutive session.