What Affects Copper Scrap Prices?
If you've ever sold copper scrap and walked away thinking "that was more than I expected" or the opposite you're not alone. Copper prices can feel unpredictable, especially if you don't know what's driving them. One week you hear copper is fetching great rates, and a month later the number sounds considerably lower. So, what's actually going on? The truth is that copper scrap pricing isn't arbitrary. There's a logic to it, and once you understand the key factors at play, you're in a much better position to time your sales well and set realistic expectations every time. It All Starts with the Global Copper Market Scrap copper doesn't exist in its own little bubble. Its price is directly tied to the global market for refined copper, which is traded as a commodity on exchanges like the London Metal Exchange (LME). When the spot price of copper goes up on international markets, scrap copper prices follow. When it drops, they drop too...