US copper scrap exports decreased by 13pc to 641,821mt in January-October from a year earlier, according to the latest trade data from the US Census Bureau.
The red metal’s exports fell by 2.6pc in October to 72,043mt from the same month last year. During the month, exports to China increased to 3,823mt, from 2,333mt in September. Shipments to South Korea also increased to 3,534mt, up three times from 1,312mt in September. Malaysia was the third-largest importer of copper scrap at 1,968mt in October.
Compared to October 2019, bare bright copper scrap exports rose 35.3pc to 7,120mt while #1 copper exports declined by 38pc to 4,110mt. #2 copper scrap exports increased by 9.1pc to 11,633mt. Other copper scrap exports fell by 10pc to 27,956mt. Refined copper scrap exports were flat at 15,020mt in October.
Imports of copper scrap into the US in the first 10 months of 2020 declined by 2.7pc totaling 86,233mt compared with the same prior-year period. In October, imports decreased by 4.4pc on an annual basis to tally at 8,123mt.