Aluminum Prices Dropped! SUNSHINE Weekly Scrap Prices Tracker: May 19-23, 2025

This week (May 19 to 23, 2025), scrap metal prices exhibited some fluctuations across different markets. Based on the price data from SUNSHINE for scrap metals in China, India, United Kingdom, and United States, the following is a report on the prices of Copper Scrap and Aluminum Scrap in the four countries. 

China – Scrap Copper Prices 

This week (May 19 to 23, 2025), scrap copper prices in China generally showed an upward trend, with small and stable fluctuations. Compared to the previous week (reference date: May 16), Motor Copper and Fire Line saw a slight increase of about 0.15%, while prices for other copper scrap types remained stable. 

Motor Copper experienced the largest increase this week, rising from 68,200 CNY/MT (May 19) to 68,500 CNY/MT (May 23), an increase of 300 CNY/MT or 0.44%. 

Next was Copper (Cu≈98%), which rose from 71,200 CNY/MT (May 19) to 71,500 CNY/MT (May 23), an increase of 300 CNY/MT or 0.42%. 

The following chart illustrates the price trends for Motor Copper and Copper (Cu≈98%) this week: 

China – Scrap Aluminum Prices 

This week (May 19 to 23, 2025), scrap aluminum prices in China saw a slight drop on May 20, followed by continuous slight increases. Overall, the trend was upward, with price increases ranging from 0.56% to 0.91%. Compared to the previous week (reference date: May 16), prices increased slightly, with gains between 0.29% and 0.64%. 

Raw Aluminum had the largest increase this week, rising from 16,550 CNY/MT (May 19) to 16,700 CNY/MT (May 23), an increase of 150 CNY/MT or 0.91%. 

Compared to the previous week (reference date: May 16), Profile Raw Material had the largest increase, rising from 15,600 CNY/MT (May 16) to 15,700 CNY/MT (May 23), an increase of 100 CNY/MT or 0.64%. 

The following chart illustrates the price trends for Raw Aluminum and Profile Raw Material this week: 

India – Scrap Copper Prices 

This week (May 19 to 23, 2025), scrap copper prices in India showed a downward trend. Some scrap types remained stable, while others saw declines ranging from 0.03% to 0.85%. Compared to the previous week (reference date: May 16), only Brass saw a slight increase of 0.03%, while other scrap copper prices either remained unchanged or declined, with decreases ranging from 0.24% to 0.85%. 

Brass Sheet Cutting experienced the largest decline this week, falling from 585 INR/kg (May 19) to 580 INR/kg (May 23), a decrease of 5 INR/kg or 0.85%. 

Compared to the previous week (reference date: May 16), Brass prices slightly increased from 470.25 INR/kg (May 16) to 470.4 INR/kg (May 23), a rise of 0.15 INR/kg or 0.03%. 

The following chart illustrates the price trends for Brass Sheet Cutting and Brass this week: 

India – Scrap Aluminum Prices 

This week (May 19 to 23, 2025), scrap aluminum prices in India showed mixed movements. The price of Aluminium Wire Scrap decreased, while No.1 Aluminum and No.2 Aluminum saw slight increases of 0.12% and 0.06%, respectively. Other aluminum scrap prices remained stable. Compared to the previous week (reference date: May 16), No.1 Aluminum and No.2 Aluminum prices slightly increased, Aluminium Wire Scrap and Aluminium Utensils Scrap prices declined, and Aluminium Accessories Scrap remained unchanged. 

Aluminium Wire Scrap dropped from 234 INR/kg (May 19) to 233 INR/kg (May 23), a decrease of 1 INR/kg or 0.43%. 

Compared to the previous week (reference date: May 16), No.1 Aluminum increased by 0.12%, rising from 173.2 INR/kg (May 16) to 173.4 INR/kg (May 23), an increase of 0.2 INR/kg. 

The following chart illustrates the price trends for Aluminium Wire Scrap and No.1 Aluminum this week: 

United Kingdom – Scrap Copper Prices 

This week (May 19 to 23, 2025), scrap copper prices in the UK showed a downward trend. All scrap types followed a consistent pattern: a price drop on May 20, then stability, and another drop on May 23. Compared to the previous week (reference date: May 16), the same downward trend and magnitude were observed. 

Heavy Copper had the largest decrease, dropping from 5.50 GBP/kg (May 19) to 5.40 GBP/kg (May 23), a drop of 0.10 GBP/kg or 1.82%. 

Next was Clean Copper Tube, which fell from 5.85 GBP/kg (May 19) to 5.75 GBP/kg (May 23), a drop of 0.10 GBP/kg or 1.71%. 

The following chart illustrates the price trends for Heavy Copper and Clean Copper Tube this week: 

United States – Scrap Copper Prices 

This week (May 19 to 23, 2025), scrap copper prices in the US fluctuated but overall showed a downward trend. Brass prices remained stable after fluctuations, while other copper scrap types saw decreases ranging from 0.32% to 0.55%. Compared to the previous week (reference date: May 16), all copper scrap prices remained unchanged. 

Copper No.1 had the largest decrease, falling from 3.62 USD/Lb (May 19) to 3.60 USD/Lb (May 23), a drop of 0.02 USD/Lb or 0.55%. 

Next was Sheet Copper, which declined from 2.91 USD/Lb (May 19) to 2.90 USD/Lb (May 23), a decrease of 0.01 USD/Lb or 0.34%. 

The following chart illustrates the price trends for Copper No.1 and Sheet Copper this week: 

United States – Scrap Aluminum Prices 

This week (May 19 to 23, 2025), scrap aluminum prices in the US showed significant fluctuations. Prices for AL Sheet and Aluminum Copper Unit remained stable, while other aluminum scrap types saw notable decreases, ranging from 2.44% to 8.33%. Compared to the previous week (reference date: May 16), the same trend was observed. 

Aluminum Wire experienced the largest decrease, dropping from 0.6 USD/Lb (May 19) to 0.55 USD/Lb (May 23), a decrease of 0.05 USD/Lb or 8.33%. 

Next was Cast Alum, which fell from 0.72 USD/Lb (May 19) to 0.67 USD/Lb (May 23), a drop of 0.05 USD/Lb or 6.94%. 

The following chart illustrates the price trends for Aluminum Wire and Cast Alum this week: