Japanese copper smelters are cutting back concentrate processing due to falling treatment charges and rising global competition. Companies are shifting toward recycling-based operations, keeping scrap-derived refining lines while scaling down traditional smelting, highlighting the growing importance of recycled copper.

One and One Green Technologies is expanding into the e-waste recycling market in Metro Manila. The company processes electronic scrap and industrial waste into copper alloy ingots and other products. Analysts see Southeast Asia emerging as a key growth region for recycled copper supply.

Nexans is developing a large copper recycling center capable of processing up to 80,000 tonnes of scrap annually. The project aims to reduce reliance on primary copper and improve supply resilience. The company highlighted recycled copper as a strategic resource amid tightening global supply.

The 2026 SMM (3rd) Global Renewable Metal Industry Chain Summit & Battery Recycling Forum will be held in Tokyo, Japan, from May 11–12, 2026. The summit aims to bring together leading global enterprises, research institutions, industry experts, and policymakers in the fields of renewable metals and battery recycling.

At the Phase II construction site of Yukun Materials Technology Co., Ltd.'s recycled copper ingot project, it can be seen that the main structure of the plant has been completed. The entire project is expected to be fully finished in the second quarter. With a total investment of 1.08 billion yuan for Phase II, the annual production capacity of recycled copper ingots is projected to reach 100,000 tons once it reaches full operation.

New Zealand recycling technology company Mint Innovation has partnered with electronics manufacturers to recover copper from electronic waste and reuse it in the production of specific electronic components. The initiative demonstrates the potential of closed-loop recycling within the electronics industry while reducing reliance on primary copper mining. Industry observers believe similar models could gradually expand across global electronics supply chains in the coming years.

[SMM Analysis: What Impact Does the Middle East Situation Have on the Recycled Copper Raw Materials Market?] Recent turbulence in the Middle East has once again rattled global commodity markets. However, zooming in on the recycled copper raw materials segment, the market has remained remarkably calm. This article examines the trade structure and supply-demand dynamics to explain why the Middle East situation has, in practice, a relatively limited impact on Asia's scrap copper market.

According to data, China's total imports of recycled copper raw materials reached 2.34 million physical tons in 2025, up 3.96% year-on-year from 2.25 million physical tons in 2024. However, the source structure shifted markedly. Among the top five supplier countries, imports from the United States plunged 67.88% year-on-year amid ongoing China-US trade tensions, while imports from Malaysia fell 32.61% due to tightening scrap import policies. Offsetting these declines, imports from Thailand surged 88.58%, and those from Japan and South Korea rose 32.96% and 32.95% respectively, driving a continued increase in Asia's overall share of supply.

Global copper market trends for 2026 reflect structural demand shifts, with strong demand from digital infrastructure and energy transition sectors boosting the strategic importance of recycled copper and other secondary feedstock.

Demand for high-copper scrap such as cables and radiators has risen sharply, with prices up >20% in recent months and processing centers seeing heavy daily trade — reflecting robust demand in secondary copper supply channels.