If you’ve ever considered recycling or scrapping old copper, you’ve probably looked into the price you can get for this metal and how often the value fluctuates. While it would be nice if the price stayed consistent, the reality is that it changes fairly often.
While it may seem random at first, there are several factors that impact copper scrap metal prices. Here are a few of the key aspects that determine copper scrap metal prices:
- Material Quality – Recycling companies won’t pay as much for corroded or otherwise contaminated metals, or loads that have mixed metal, such as steel pipes with copper tubing. This negatively impacts the price because the company will have to spend more time cleaning contaminated pieces or sorting the mixed metals.
- Time of Year – Many industries that use metal experience seasonal production fluctuations. For example, construction work tends to be high in warmer months, meaning the demand for copper is generally higher in the summer. Steel, on the other hand, generally fetches a higher price in winter.
- New Metal Market Prices – Many companies search for recycled options when new metal is more expensive than recycled, and vice versa. You can check new metal prices to get an idea of which side the market is on when you’re looking to sell your scrap metal.
It’s important to remember that recycling companies determine their prices, including copper scrap metal prices, by looking at several factors and setting their offers accordingly. Knowing how the market changes can help you understand the price you get the next time you utilize a scrap metal recycling company, but if you have further questions about pricing feel free to reach out to our team for more information.