LME Copper Breaches $14,000 Mark, Driving European Copper Scrap Wholesale Prices to Record Highs

Published: May 21, 2026 09:33

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In mid-May, LME copper rallied strongly, exceeding the historical $14,000/mt mark for the first time. The boom on the metal exchange drove European copper scrap prices to unprecedented levels. According to German market data, wholesale purchasing prices for copper scrap increased by €30 to €55 per 100 kilograms within a single week, depending on the grade, with brass scrap following the uptrend. This price surge has further strengthened the reluctance to sell among holders of already scarce high-quality local scrap in Europe.

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