Asian Copper Scrap Market Diverges: China Recovers as Japan and Korea Soften

Published: Mar 6, 2026 14:46
The three major copper scrap consumption markets in Asia are showing split performance: China’s post-holiday demand recovery has pushed the bright copper pricing up from 97% to 97.5%, whereas Japan’s coefficient remains stable at 97.4% due to sluggish procurement and JPY-driven caution in USD settlements. Meanwhile, South Korea has seen a correction from 97.8% to 97%, weighed down by high local inventory levels.

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The three major copper scrap consumption markets in Asia are showing s - Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)