This week, the secondary copper rod market operated against the backdrop of copper prices fluctuating at highs above the 100,000 yuan mark, with all segments of the industry chain struggling to find balance amid policy constraints and price negotiations. The market overall exhibited complex characteristics of "marginal recovery on the production side, price pressure on the raw material side...

Metallum is expanding its global recycling and trading network in partnership with Switzerland’s Thommen Group. The company handles recyclable metals including copper and integrates closely with processing operations. Traders are increasingly combining recycling and trading into unified business models.

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.

Recent trends in Asian scrap copper markets are diverging: China’s Bare Bright copper import discount rate have climbed to 98%-98.5% due to tight tax-inclusive copper scrap supply, pushing Japanese quotes up by 1 percentage point to similar levels via strong market linkage. Conversely, South Korea remains stable at 97.5%-98% due to high domestic inventories level. According to feedback from local downstream enterprises, high domestic inventory levels mean current procurement discount rate are expected to remain unchanged through the second quarter,

【SMM Copper Cathode Rod Flash News】 Copper prices pulled back sharply in early trading today, effectively stimulating the concentrated release of rigid downstream demand. Coupled with the price difference between copper cathode and copper scrap remaining at a low level and the weakening substitution effect between refined and scrap copper, orders from downstream enterprises such as wire and cable and enamelled wire improved and restocking was concentrated, driving a surge in orders for copper cathode rod enterprises, with processing fees rising simultaneously.

Broad declines in North American scrap copper prices, with #1 and #2 copper wire down modestly while aluminum scrap remains flat.

[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.

SMM Analysis: In 2025, China's smelting and refining capacity grew, while the TC for copper concentrates continued to deteriorate. Against this backdrop, smelters were compelled to adjust their raw material mix, with copper scrap, blister copper, and anode plates becoming key substitutes and supplements...

In early 2026, both copper and scrap metal prices reached record highs with scrap copper wholesale price gains of EUR 15–20 per 100 kg in Germany before moderating slightly as market volatility increased.

Industry research indicates that 2026 will see both increased volume and higher prices in the scrap copper recycling market, driven by strong demand from EV, electronic and infrastructure sectors, alongside tighter primary supply.