US copper scrap exports decreased by 10.8pc to 67,881mt in August from a year earlier, after a small increase last month of 3.7pc, according to US Census Bureau’s latest trade data.
Scrap exports in the January-August 2020 period totaled 597,098mt, declining by 15.4pc from the same period last year.
US copper scrap exports to China fell by 57pc in August from a month earlier. The latter recently approving another batch of scrap import quotas that effectively proscribe scrap imports beginning January 1, 2021.
Exports to China in June stood at 3858mt, while those to South Korea were tallied at 1,123mt. Beligum was the third-largest importer of copper scrap from the US at 972mt.
Compared to August 2019, bare bright copper scrap exports rose by 16.7pc to 5,508mt, while #1 and #2 copper exports declined 59pc and 24pc to 2,792mt and 7,916mt, respectively. Other copper scrap exports decreased by 14.6pc to 30,222mt, and refined copper scrap exports increased by 19.3pc to 15,445mt in August.
US copper scrap imports in August rose by 10.7pc from a year earlier, reaching 8,548mt. While year-to-date imports decreased by 4.2pc to 70,251mt, refined copper scrap imports surged by 39.4pc to 3,052mt during the same period. Other copper scrap imports were almost flat at 5,495mt.