Indian Brass Billet Exports to China Rise in North, Average in Jamnagar Amid Mixed Scrap Trends

Demand for Indian brass billet exports to China is improving, according to suppliers in North India, while producers in Jamnagar described buying interest as average.

Chinese buyers’ indicative buying levels strengthened to 63–63.5% of the LME three-month copper price, compared with the previously indicated 62–63%, despite the decline in the copper benchmark.

Based on the LME three-month copper price of $14,485/mt, Chinese buyers’ indicative buying levels of 63–63.5% translated to approximately $9,126–9,198/mt, averaging $9,162/mt.

North Indian suppliers reported improving Chinese demand and healthy transaction volumes, whereas Jamnagar-based producers said buying interest remained moderate, indicating that the recovery in export demand has yet to become broad-based.

Export competitiveness continues to depend on the gap between Chinese buying levels and Indian sellers’ offers, alongside raw material and processing costs.

Meanwhile, domestic brass scrap prices showed mixed trends this week. In Delhi, Purja scrap was indicated at ₹840,000–842,000/mt ($8,831–8,852/mt) and Honey scrap at ₹880,000–882,000/mt ($9,253–9,274/mt).

In Jamnagar, local brass scrap was reported at around ₹853,000/mt ($8,969/mt), Vilayati scrap at ₹860,000/mt ($9,043/mt), and Honey scrap at ₹920,000–927,000/mt ($9,674–9,747/mt).

Market participants said Honey scrap availability remained good in both domestic and international markets, while demand was lower than the previous week.

LME copper cash-settlement prices declined by around 1.1%, from $14,751/mt on October 14 to $14,595/mt on October 16.

The improvement in Chinese buying levels and demand reported by North Indian suppliers offers some support to export prospects, although average demand in Jamnagar and softer scrap demand point to a mixed recovery.