Copper Scrap Prices in India: Why They Keep Rising in 2026

Updated: May 05, 2026 · 15 min read

Copper scrap rates at Mumbai’s Dharavi and Bhiwandi trading yards crossed ₹620/kg for clean bright wire in June 2026 — a level that was last seen only briefly in Q4 2024. For electricians sitting on post-project offcuts, construction firms clearing old wiring, or plant managers with end-of-life transformers and motors, that number is no accident. It is the convergence of London Metal Exchange (LME) pricing above $10,000/tonne, a domestic supply gap of roughly 200,000 tonnes annually, and a policy environment that is simultaneously mandating more copper use and tightening the rules around who can legally buy and recycle it. Understanding why the copper scrap price in India keeps rising — and what you must do to capture that value without falling foul of compliance requirements — is the purpose of this article.

The ₹580–₹650/kg Reality: Where Copper Scrap Prices Stand in 2026

Across major Indian trading hubs in mid-2026, indicative copper scrap rates today are as follows: clean bright copper wire commands ₹620–₹650/kg in Mumbai and Pune; millberry (99%+ purity) fetches ₹640–₹660/kg; mixed or insulated copper wire trades at ₹480–₹530/kg (before stripping costs); and burnt copper scrap — the residue from cable incineration — sits at ₹520–₹545/kg. These figures represent an approximate 18% increase over mid-2025, when clean wire averaged ₹510–₹530/kg in the same markets.

The primary price anchor is LME copper, which has oscillated between $9,400 and $10,800/tonne through the first half of 2026. Indian importers must add a 5% customs duty on refined copper (under Customs Tariff Heading 74.01–74.03) plus GST at 18%, which makes domestic scrap attractive to secondary smelters and brass mills in Gujarat’s Jamnagar cluster. When import parity prices rise, domestic scrap prices follow — typically with a 5–10 day lag.

Regional differentials are real. Tamil Nadu’s Mettur and Coimbatore copper clusters may quote ₹10–₹15/kg below Mumbai benchmarks due to lower logistics costs to local consumers. Delhi-NCR and Ludhiana, which serve the cable and motor manufacturing belts, tend to track Mumbai closely. For sellers, this means a phone call to a pan-India non-ferrous metal scrap buyer is worth more than accepting the first offer from a local kabadiwala.

What Really Drives the Copper Scrap Price in India

Electric Vehicles and the FAME III Demand Surge

A single electric passenger vehicle contains roughly 83 kg of copper — three to four times the copper in an equivalent internal combustion engine car. India’s FAME III (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) programme, announced in the Union Budget 2024-25 with an outlay of approximately ₹2,671 crore for FY 2024-26, is pushing domestic EV penetration targets toward 30% of new two-wheeler sales and 10% of new four-wheeler sales by FY 2030. As domestic EV production scales, secondary copper — recovered from scrap — becomes a critical feedstock because primary copper mining in India meets only about 4% of national consumption. The balance is either imported or sourced from copper recycling.

Renewable Energy Wiring Requirements

India’s target of 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, anchored in the National Action Plan on Climate Change and administered by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, requires enormous quantities of copper for grid interconnections, solar farm wiring, and wind turbine generators. The NITI Aayog‘s National Green Hydrogen Mission sets a target of 5 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) of green hydrogen production by 2030, requiring electrolyser infrastructure that is copper-intensive. Both programmes are multi-year demand commitments, not seasonal spikes — which is why traders and analysts view the current copper price environment as structurally elevated rather than a passing rally.

LME as the Ultimate Price Setter

Domestic scrap prices in India are not set in isolation. The London Metal Exchange three-month copper contract is the global benchmark. Indian secondary smelters back-calculate their scrap purchase price from LME, subtract processing costs (typically $200–$400/tonne for secondary smelting), add a domestic premium or discount for quality and location, and convert at the prevailing USD/INR rate. When LME copper moved from $8,800/tonne in January 2024 to above $10,000/tonne in mid-2026, that roughly ₹120–₹140/kg uplift fed directly into Indian scrap yard rates.

Grades of Copper Scrap and Their Current Market Rates

Not all copper is priced equally. The grade determines both the price offered and the regulatory scrutiny it attracts. The table below captures indicative mid-2026 prices at Mumbai-region yards and the typical purity range for each grade.

Grade / Common Name	Typical Purity	Indicative Price (₹/kg, mid-2026)	Common Source
Millberry / No. 1 Bare Bright	≥ 99.9%	₹640–₹660	New wire offcuts, busbars
Clean Bright Wire (No. 1)	99–99.9%	₹620–₹645	Electrical contractors, factories
Heavy Copper / No. 2	94–96%	₹590–₹615	Plumbing pipes, bus bars with solder
Insulated Copper Wire	Variable	₹480–₹530	Building demolition, cable scrap
Burnt / Incinerated Wire	85–92%	₹520–₹545	Cable waste after burning
Copper Turnings / Borings	90–95%	₹565–₹590	Machine shops, CNC units
Transformer / Motor Copper	70–90% (with steel)	₹440–₹510	End-of-life motors, transformers

The grade gap between millberry and transformer copper is real — up to ₹220/kg in mid-2026. This is why segregation at source, rather than selling as a mixed lot, can meaningfully improve realisation. Buyers who offer mechanical stripping of insulated wire on-site or at their facility can convert ₹500/kg material into ₹620+/kg metal. Ask for this service before quoting your scrap.

The Regulatory Framework Every Copper Scrap Seller Must Know

Hazardous Waste Rules, 2016 and Copper Scrap Movement

Copper scrap is not classified as hazardous waste per se, but the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), govern its import and export under Schedule VI (Other Wastes). Any importer or exporter of copper scrap must obtain prior authorisation from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) or the relevant State Pollution Control Board. Importing without authorisation — or consigning copper scrap abroad without MoEFCC approval — attracts penalties up to ₹1 lakh per day under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and in repeat cases, imprisonment of up to five years.

Metals Recycling and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Even within India, secondary copper smelters and refiners that process scrap must hold Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) from their respective State Pollution Control Board under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. In Maharashtra, this means MPCB authorisation. Non-compliant buyers — those operating smelters without valid CTO — expose sellers to supply-chain liability, particularly for SEBI-listed companies filing BRSR Core disclosures.

BRSR Core and the Supply-Chain Documentation Imperative

SEBI’s circular dated 12 July 2023 made BRSR Core mandatory for the top 150 listed entities by market capitalisation from FY 2023-24, expanding to the top 250 entities from FY 2024-25. BRSR Core’s Leadership Indicators require companies to disclose the percentage of input materials (including recycled metals) sourced from verified sustainable or certified suppliers. A construction firm or electrical contractor selling copper scrap to an unlicensed aggregator risks appearing in its customers’ supply-chain audit as an unverified vendor — an increasingly commercial, not merely reputational, problem. The right answer is to sell only to authorised copper scrap buyers who can provide a certificate of recycling and a GST-compliant tax invoice.

GST and HSN Codes for Copper Scrap Transactions

Copper scrap falls under HSN Code 7404 (Copper waste and scrap) and attracts GST at 18% under the reverse charge mechanism when sold by an unregistered supplier to a registered dealer. Sellers who are GST-registered must charge GST on invoices. Transactions conducted in cash above ₹2 lakh without a GST invoice create both an Income Tax Act, 1961 exposure (Section 269ST) and GST audit risk. The GST portal provides HSN-level e-way bill requirements: consignments above ₹50,000 in value require an e-way bill regardless of distance. In practice, a single load of clean copper wire above 80 kg at current prices will trigger this threshold.

The Rs. 50/kg Mistake Most Copper Scrap Sellers Make

The most common and costly error is selling mixed or unsegregated copper scrap — bundling insulated wire, stripped wire, turnings, and transformer copper into a single lot. Buyers will price the entire consignment at the lowest grade present. Given a ₹50–₹180/kg differential between grades, a 200 kg mixed lot at ₹520/kg realises ₹1,04,000. The same material, segregated into 80 kg of clean wire (₹635/kg = ₹50,800) and 120 kg of insulated/mixed (₹510/kg = ₹61,200), yields ₹1,12,000 — a ₹8,000 difference on a single transaction. Across a construction project generating 2–3 tonnes of copper scrap, that gap becomes ₹80,000–₹1,20,000.

The second common error is selling to a buyer who cannot provide a GST invoice. Under Rule 46 of the CGST Rules, 2017, a tax invoice is mandatory for registered dealers. Factories and construction firms that dispose of copper scrap without a proper invoice cannot claim input tax credit and may find the transaction flagged during a GST audit. Since April 2023, the GST Council has intensified scrutiny of scrap transactions specifically, following observations of ITC misuse in the secondary metals sector.

The third mistake — and the one with the longest tail — is failing to verify a buyer’s environmental authorisations. Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and analogous bodies in other states have stepped up inspections of secondary non-ferrous processing units since 2024, following MoEFCC directives. A seller whose material is processed at an unlicensed facility can face notices under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 as an “involved party” in unauthorised hazardous activity, particularly where dioxin-emitting cable incineration is involved. Check that your copper recycling partner holds valid CTO before you sell.

7-Step Checklist: Getting Maximum Copper Scrap Value This Quarter

Whether you are an electrician clearing project waste, a factory manager decommissioning old motors, or a construction firm managing building demolition copper, these seven actions will protect both your realisation and your compliance position:

1. Segregate at source. Separate bare/bright copper from insulated wire, turnings, transformer copper, and alloys (brass, bronze) before any buyer arrives. Label each category and weigh it independently. This single step can add ₹40–₹180/kg on the higher grades.
2. Strip insulated wire where feasible. Mechanical stripping — not burning — converts insulated wire from ₹490/kg to ₹615+/kg. Ask your buyer whether they offer on-site mechanical stripping or a facility-level service and factor this into your net realisation calculation.
3. Obtain three quotes linked to the current LME rate. Ask each buyer: “What LME rate are you using today, and what discount to LME are you applying?” A reputable copper scrap buyer should be transparent about both numbers. Any buyer quoting a flat rate without reference to LME is likely capturing a hidden margin at your expense.
4. Verify your buyer’s GST registration and MPCB/SPCB authorisations. Request the GSTIN, check it on the GST portal, and ask for a copy of the buyer’s Consent to Operate. For export-linked transactions, verify CPCB authorisation under the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016.
5. Insist on a proper GST tax invoice (HSN 7404) and an e-way bill for consignments above ₹50,000. Retain both documents for at least six years (the standard GST audit window under Section 36 of the CGST Act, 2017).
6. Request a certificate of recycling. This single document — confirming your copper has been processed by an authorised recycler — is the evidence you need for BRSR, ESG due diligence questionnaires from listed-company customers, and sustainability reporting under ISO 14001 frameworks.
7. Time large disposals around LME movements. Copper is a liquid commodity. If you have more than 500 kg, track LME three-month copper for one to two weeks before committing. A ₹200/tonne LME move translates to roughly ₹15/kg at the Indian yard level — on 500 kg, that is ₹7,500 on timing alone.

Related Articles

• Aluminium Scrap Recycling in India: Process, Value, and Why It Matters
• Scrap Metal Rates in India: A Complete 2026 Guide for Businesses
• How to Sell Industrial Scrap: A Step-by-Step Guide for Factory Owners

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the copper scrap price per kg in India in 2026?

In mid-2026, indicative copper scrap rates at Mumbai-region yards range from ₹480/kg for mixed insulated wire to ₹660/kg for millberry (bare bright, ≥99.9% purity). The benchmark is LME three-month copper, which has traded above $10,000/tonne through much of 2026. Prices in Chennai, Bengaluru, and Delhi-NCR typically track Mumbai within a ₹10–₹15/kg margin, adjusted for local logistics and smelter proximity. Always obtain an LME-referenced quote rather than a flat rate to ensure you receive fair-market value.

Do I need any regulatory clearance to sell copper scrap in India?

For domestic sale within India, no specific environmental permit is required from the seller — however, you must transact with a buyer holding valid MPCB/SPCB authorisations (Consent to Operate) for their processing facility. For import or export of copper scrap, the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 require prior CPCB or MoEFCC authorisation. GST obligations apply under HSN Code 7404, and e-way bills are mandatory for consignments valued above ₹50,000, irrespective of distance, under Rule 138 of the CGST Rules, 2017.

What is the difference between No. 1 and No. 2 copper scrap?

No. 1 (clean bright) copper is uncoated, unalloyed wire or bus bar with a minimum purity of 99%, free from solder, paint, and insulation, commanding ₹620–₹645/kg in mid-2026. No. 2 copper includes heavier gauge scrap with minor contamination — solder joints, light coatings, or small attachments — and assays at 94–96% purity, fetching ₹590–₹615/kg. The ₹30–₹50/kg differential directly reflects the additional refining cost a smelter incurs to process No. 2 to cathode standard, so segregating and cleaning your scrap before sale is a concrete financial benefit.

Can I burn insulated copper wire to strip it faster?

No. Burning insulated copper cable is illegal under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, as it releases dioxins and furans — listed as hazardous air pollutants. CPCB enforcement actions against cable burning have intensified since 2024 following NGT (National Green Tribunal) directions. Beyond the legal risk, burnt wire also attracts a lower price — ₹520–₹545/kg versus ₹615–₹640/kg for mechanically stripped wire — so incineration destroys both compliance standing and financial value. Use mechanical strippers or ask your buyer to strip on your behalf.

Why do SEBI-listed companies now ask for recycling certificates when disposing of copper scrap?

SEBI’s BRSR Core framework, made mandatory for the top 150 listed companies from FY 2023-24 and the top 250 from FY 2024-25 under SEBI’s circular dated 12 July 2023, requires disclosed, auditable supply chains for materials including recycled metals. A certificate of recycling from an authorised copper recycler serves as primary evidence that scrap was disposed of in an environmentally compliant manner, satisfying both BRSR Leadership Indicators and third-party ESG audit requirements. Without this documentation, listed-company procurement teams increasingly exclude vendors from approved supplier lists.

Work With The National Recycling Corporation

The National Recycling Corporation (nationalrecycling.in) is a Mumbai-headquartered, pan-India scrap trading and recycling company with operational presence across Maharashtra, Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. We purchase copper scrap across all grades — from millberry and clean bright wire to transformer copper and motor windings — at prices indexed daily to LME copper. Our pricing model is transparent: we share the LME rate and our processing discount openly, so you know exactly what you are getting and why.

Every transaction comes with a GST-compliant tax invoice under HSN 7404, an e-way bill where required, and — on request — a certificate of recycling confirming your material was processed by an authorised facility. For SEBI-listed firms, infrastructure developers, or manufacturing plants preparing BRSR disclosures or responding to ESG due diligence questionnaires, this documentation package meets the evidentiary standard set by SEBI’s 12 July 2023 circular. We work with CPCB-authorised disposal partners for specialised waste streams, and our non-ferrous metals recycling service covers copper, aluminium, brass, stainless steel, and lead under one commercial relationship.

Our Mumbai and Thane operations offer same-week pickup scheduling. For large-volume or multi-location disposals — construction firms clearing copper wiring across multiple sites, or factories decommissioning entire electrical rooms — we offer site surveys, segregation assistance, and consolidated invoicing. Contact us to schedule a pickup or receive a same-day indicative rate.

• LME-indexed, transparent pricing for all copper scrap grades
• Pan-India doorstep pickup: Mumbai, Pune, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad
• GST-compliant tax invoicing (HSN 7404) and e-way bill generation
• Certificate of recycling for BRSR Core, ESG audits, and ISO 14001 compliance
• CPCB-authorised processing partners for regulated waste streams
• BRSR-grade documentation package available on request for listed companies
• Mechanical stripping service to upgrade insulated wire pricing before purchase

Sources and References

• CPCB — Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016
• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) — Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and subordinate rules
• NITI Aayog — National Green Hydrogen Mission and Circular Economy Policy documents
• Ministry of Steel, Government of India — Scrap-based steel and secondary metals policy
• GST Council / CBIC — HSN Code 7404 (Copper Waste and Scrap), e-way bill rules
• London Metal Exchange — LME Copper (Grade A) price data and contracts
• MSTC Limited — Government scrap auction platform for public sector copper and metal disposals
• Press reports (Business Standard, Economic Times, Mint) on SEBI BRSR Core implementation timelines and Indian EV sector copper demand, 2024–2026