China copper scrap imports increase 50% in Sep

SHANGHAI, Oct 23 (SMM) – China imported 150,000 mt of copper scrap in September, up 50% from August but down 21.2% from September 2018, according to SMM calculations based on data from the General Administration of Customs.

This brought copper scrap imports in the first nine months of 2019 to 1.24 million mt, down 30.4% from the same period a year earlier.

In September, China’s imports of aluminium scrap shrank 21.4% from a month ago but rose 17.9% from a year ago to 110,000 mt, while there were no imports of steel scrap.

Imports of aluminium scrap amounted to 1.24 million mt in January-September, up 4.2% on a year-over-year basis.

Chinese authorities issued a fresh batch of import quotas for newly-restricted high-grade aluminium and copper scrap last week, which shrank sharply from those for the third quarter and sparked fears of supply shortages.