Aurubis’ new CRH facility in Hamburg has come online after an investment of around €190 million. Once fully ramped up, the facility will allow Aurubis to process more than 30,000 additional tonnes of recycling material per year, along with larger volumes of high-value smelter intermediates.

Aurubis’ new CRH facility in Hamburg has come online following an investment of around €190 million. The system will allow the company to process more than 30,000 additional tonnes of recycling material per year, as well as larger volumes of high-value smelter intermediates, strengthening Aurubis’ position in complex recycling feedstock processing.

SMM Morning Meeting Minutes: Last Friday night, LME copper opened at $13,354.5/mt, dipped to $13,343/mt shortly after the opening, then drifted slightly higher to a high of $13,392/mt before settling at $13,357.5/mt, up 0.54%. Trading volume reached 8,500 lots, and open interest stood at 250,000 lots, a decrease of 587 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bears reduced positions. Last Friday night, the most-traded SHFE copper 2608 contract opened at 102,710 yuan/mt. The price center dipped to 102,710 yuan/mt after the opening, then moved in a "W" shape. Near the close, it reached a high of 103,010 yuan/mt, and finally settled at 102,790 yuan/mt, up 0.14%. Trading volume was 16,300 lots, and open interest was 151,000 lots, a decrease of 811 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bulls reduced positions.

Aurubis commissioned the "Complex Recycling Hamburg (CRH)" I at its Hamburg site, a world-first facility with an investment of 190 million euros aimed at strengthening Europe's strategic metal recycling capabilities. The plant can process copper, lead, and sulfur simultaneously in a single production unit.

Aurubis has commissioned a new exhaust-gas collection and treatment system at its Hamburg smelter. The company describes it as the most powerful exhaust system in the global copper industry. The investment supports lower emissions and strengthens Aurubis' environmental performance.

Aurubis announced that its Aurubis Italia facility has become the first copper-production site in Italy to receive The Copper Mark certification. The certification recognizes performance in environmental, social and governance standards and supports growing demand for responsibly sourced copper products.

Aurubis expects to complete the expansion of its Augusta, Georgia copper scrap recycling facility later in September 2026. The project is designed to increase processing capacity and support growing demand from data centers, grid infrastructure and automotive applications.

German copper producer Aurubis on Friday raised its full-year profit guidance, saying stronger market and operational prospects put the company's profits on track to exceed previous expectations.The company said persistently high metal prices, expected revenue growth from recycled material processing, and higher sulphuric acid sales in H2 would support its performance.Aurubis's metal products have broad applications across multiple industries.The copper market has maintained robust demand due to strong copper demand from AI data centers and electrification construction.Aurubis raised its full-year operating pre-tax profit (EBT) guidance from the previous expectation of 375 million to 467 million euros to 425 million to 525 million euros.

Despite rebounding copper prices, Asian spot scrap supply remains tight, with pricing coefficients unexpectedly firm (Bare Bright holding around 98.5%). Concurrently, Western spot offers are shrinking. As the Aurubis Richmond smelter absorbs ~180,000 tonnes annually and US domestic cable shredding capacity rapidly expands, both the volume and quality of US scrap exports to Asia are declining. This structural shift is slashing transoceanic trade, accelerating the era of "regional circulation" for recycled copper. Currently, the squeeze primarily hits intermediate traders with sluggish volumes, while downstream end-consumers report limited immediate impact.

Germany’s Aurubis AG reported nearly $414 million in earnings before tax for its fiscal year, partly driven by recycled-content copper product demand. While profit declined 14% year-on-year, the company is exploring targeted expansion opportunities in recycled copper operations.