Scrap metal prices per kg in China
| Scrap type | Price (CNY) | Change | Global reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-ferrous (per kg) | |||
| Copper Scrap | CN¥80.36 / kg | ▼ -2.28% | $5.56 / lb |
| Aluminum Scrap | CN¥11.13 / kg | ▼ -1.28% | $0.77 / lb |
| Brass Scrap | CN¥49.28 / kg | ▼ -1.73% | $3.41 / lb |
| Stainless Steel Scrap | CN¥8.24 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.57 / lb |
| Lead Scrap | CN¥8.53 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.59 / lb |
| Zinc Scrap | CN¥13.01 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.90 / lb |
| Battery Scrap | CN¥3.32 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.23 / lb |
| Radiator Scrap | CN¥46.10 / kg | ▼ -2.45% | $3.19 / lb |
| Wire Scrap | CN¥38.73 / kg | ▼ -2.55% | $2.68 / lb |
| Cable Scrap | CN¥25.87 / kg | ▼ -2.19% | $1.79 / lb |
| Electronic Scrap | CN¥11.13 / kg | ▼ -2.53% | $0.77 / lb |
| Ferrous and bulk (per tonne) | |||
| Steel Scrap | CN¥2,168 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $300 / ton |
| Iron Scrap | CN¥1,908 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $264 / ton |
| Car Scrap | CN¥2,601 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $360 / ton |
| Cast Iron | CN¥2,081 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $288 / ton |
Indicative dealer prices for clean, sorted scrap. Global reference is the US board in US dollars; the China figure applies the exchange rate (1 USD = 6.69 CNY) and a local market factor of 0.98.
Chinese dealers quote both ferrous and non-ferrous scrap in yuan per tonne, usually including VAT, and the trade watches the spread between Shanghai Futures Exchange copper and the scrap bid. This page shows non-ferrous per kilogram for comparison with other countries; multiply by 1,000 for the per-tonne figure.
China scrap price chart (CNY)
Daily open, high, low and close for the most traded scrap metals in CNY per kg or per tonne. Scroll to zoom and drag to move along the timeline.
Price history could not be loaded.
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Copper scrap prices by grade in China
Copper is not one price. Yards grade it by cleanliness, coating and gauge, and the spread from the top grade to the bottom runs 25 to 35 percent. These are the same grades used on export contracts, converted to CNY.
The scrap market in China
China consumes more scrap than any other country and sets the direction of the world market for copper and aluminium scrap. Domestic collection has grown fast, while imports are restricted to material that meets the national recycled raw material standards, so import grades trade at a premium to mixed domestic scrap.
Prices are quoted in the Pearl River Delta (Guangdong), the Yangtze Delta around Shanghai and Zhejiang, and the northern hubs of Tianjin and Hebei, with Shanghai Futures Exchange copper as the domestic benchmark.
- Currency
- Chinese yuan (CNY)
- Price units
- Per tonne in the trade; shown here per kg and per tonne
- Benchmarks
- Shanghai Futures Exchange copper and aluminium
- Main hubs
- Guangdong, Zhejiang and Shanghai, Tianjin, Hebei
- Trade position
- Largest consumer, selective importer
The most valuable scrap by weight in China today: Copper at CN¥80.36 per kg, Brass at CN¥49.28 per kg, Radiator at CN¥46.10 per kg, Wire at CN¥38.73 per kg, Cable at CN¥25.87 per kg.
What you can expect to be paid in China
Scrap is weighed and paid by the kilogram in China, in CNY. Typical ranges are Copper: CN¥ 71 to CN¥ 90 per kg; Brass: CN¥ 43 to CN¥ 55 per kg; Aluminium: CN¥ 10 to CN¥ 12 per kg; Zinc: CN¥ 11 to CN¥ 15 per kg; Lead: CN¥ 7.5 to CN¥ 9.6 per kg; Stainless steel: CN¥ 7.3 to CN¥ 9.2 per kg. Across common non-ferrous grades that puts most material between CN¥ 7.3 and CN¥ 90 per kg, with copper at the top of the range and stainless steel near the bottom.
These are ranges rather than quotes. The band reflects day-to-day movement in the metal market and the spread between one yard and another, which our own research has found can reach 40 percent or more for the same metal in the same city. The midpoint is derived from the international exchange settlement converted to CNY and adjusted by our published market factor of 0.98. Expect a local buyer to sit toward the lower end, because they carry collection, sorting, processing and their own margin. Always confirm the rate per kilo for your specific grade before anything is weighed.
- Copper: CN¥ 71 to CN¥ 90 per kg
- Brass: CN¥ 43 to CN¥ 55 per kg
- Aluminium: CN¥ 10 to CN¥ 12 per kg
- Zinc: CN¥ 11 to CN¥ 15 per kg
- Lead: CN¥ 7.5 to CN¥ 9.6 per kg
- Stainless steel: CN¥ 7.3 to CN¥ 9.2 per kg
Where Chinese scrap comes from when it is not imported
Almost everything written about Chinese scrap, on this site included, is about imports: the standards, the customs codes, the inspections. That is only one of three channels. Chinese scrap metal comes from self-production inside steel mills, from imports, and from what is called social recycling, meaning the domestic collection network.
The self-production figure is worth carrying around. The rate of self-produced scrap at Chinese steel mills has been stable at about 5 percent of output, corresponding to roughly 40 million tonnes a year. That is generated inside the plant and never touches a yard or a port.
The administrative point is also worth knowing: the competent authority for the recycling industry in China is the Ministry of Commerce, not an environmental body. Recycling is treated as trade, and that framing shows up in how the sector is regulated.
The direction of travel is away from imports
Domestic recycling volumes for non-ferrous metals have been rising year on year while import volumes decline. Industry reporting in July 2026 described Chinese government efforts to expand recycled-content metals output while reducing reliance on imported feedstock. That is a stated policy direction, not a market accident.
At the same time, demand for scrap inside China rose in the first half of 2026 for a different reason. An S&P Global analysis found refined copper producers increasing their consumption of copper-bearing scrap, partly because copper concentrate availability tightened and spot processing charges fell further into negative territory.
Those two facts pull in opposite directions for an exporter. Chinese smelters want more scrap right now because concentrate is expensive and tight. Chinese policy wants that scrap to come from domestic collection rather than from you. Which force dominates in a given quarter is what decides whether your material is wanted.
Selling scrap metal in China: rules, ID and payment
Scrap imports must meet the national standards for recycled copper, aluminium and steel raw materials; material that does not qualify is treated as waste and refused. Domestic dealers are licensed and larger trades are invoiced with VAT.
Before you sell
- Quotes are per tonne and usually include VAT; check both before comparing.
- Import grades must meet the recycled raw material standard.
- Guangdong and Zhejiang buyers set the non-ferrous price.
Scrap prices by city in China
City pages for China are being added; the country board above already reflects prices in its main hubs: Guangdong, Zhejiang and Shanghai, Tianjin, Hebei.
Scrap yards in China
Find a yard by region or city, or use your location to see the nearest. Every listing shows where its details came from and when they were checked.
Yard listings for China are being added from official dealer registers and trade directories. Nothing is published until it has been verified against a named source, which is why this section is not yet populated.
China scrap price FAQ
What is the scrap copper price per kg in China today?
As of October 22, 2026, the indicative scrap copper price in China is CN¥80.36 per kg ($5.56 per lb on the global board). Bare bright and clean number 1 copper earn the top of the range; insulated wire, tubing with solder and mixed copper pay less.
What are scrap metal prices in China today?
Today's indicative non-ferrous prices in China are Copper CN¥80.36 per kg, Brass CN¥49.28 per kg, Radiator CN¥46.10 per kg, Wire CN¥38.73 per kg, with steel scrap at CN¥2,168 per tonne. The full board above lists all 15 scrap types with the change against the previous close.
How are scrap prices quoted in China?
Non-ferrous scrap is quoted in CNY per kg and ferrous scrap per tonne. Chinese dealers quote both ferrous and non-ferrous scrap in yuan per tonne, usually including VAT, and the trade watches the spread between Shanghai Futures Exchange copper and the scrap bid. This page shows non-ferrous per kilogram for comparison with other countries; multiply by 1,000 for the per-tonne figure.
Do I need ID to sell scrap metal in China?
Scrap imports must meet the national standards for recycled copper, aluminium and steel raw materials; material that does not qualify is treated as waste and refused. Domestic dealers are licensed and larger trades are invoiced with VAT.
Which scrap metals pay the most in China?
By weight, copper, then brass, then radiator, then wire. Ferrous scrap such as steel and iron pays far less per kg but moves in much larger volumes, which is why it is quoted per tonne.
Why are scrap prices in China different from US prices?
Metals are priced in US dollars on the world market, but local prices reflect the CNY exchange rate, freight to the nearest mills and smelters, import and export rules and how many buyers compete for material. Chinese domestic scrap trades at a discount to import-grade material and to the US reference.
Sources and methodology
Prices on this page start from the global reference board (US dollars per pound or per ton), are multiplied by a China market factor of 0.98 that reflects local demand, freight and trade rules, and are converted to CNY at 1 USD = 6.69 and to metric units (kilograms and tonnes). The board refreshes daily, with the time of the latest update shown at the top of the page.
Reference sources
- China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association recycling branch (CMRA)
- Shanghai Futures Exchange settlement prices
Prices are indicative and for information only; they are not offers to buy or sell. Actual yard prices depend on grade, quantity, location and the buyer. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will check it against our sources.
Scrap prices in other countries
Europe
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Italy
- Spain
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Ireland
- Sweden
- Poland
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Czechia
- Portugal