A region in Europe has emerged as the biggest highlight for copper scrap imports this month, with supply from multiple countries surging.
Copper scrap is any discarded or leftover copper material, such as old electrical wires, plumbing pipes, and industrial parts, that is collected to be recycled.
Imports from Spain totalled 11,900 tonnes in physical content, representing a 110.05% increase year-on-year, according to data from the Shanghai Metals Market (SMM).
In May 2026 alone, Spain imported €120 million ($195.7 million) of copper scrap, mostly from the US, France, Portugal, the UK, and Italy, as reported by the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC). Copper scrap is Spain’s 122nd most imported product, as of 2025.
Meanwhile, imports from the UK were 10,600 tonnes in physical content, representing a 15% year-on-year increase. Canada’s imports totalled 9,800 tonnes in physical content, up 56.27% year-on-year.
As previously reported, the US Bureau of Industry and Security introduced a 100% domestic sales requirement for lithium-ion battery black mass and tungsten scrap, signalling a push to retain strategic secondary resources domestically.
Copper scrap was not included in the latest measure, although the US has proposed encouraging 25% of ‘high-quality’ copper scrap to remain in the domestic market, and has discussed a potential export licensing system.
However, SMM believes a black mass-style 100% domestic sales requirement for copper scrap is unlikely in the near term.
More than 40% of US copper scrap is already consumed domestically. However, exports remain an important outlet.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
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