India: IMRC Jaipur 2026 witnesses active trade across scrap markets

• Copper, aluminium scrap see active deal flow despite volatile LME cues
• Stainless steel, ferrous scrap trades indicate steady import appetite

Deal-making momentum remained strong across the non-ferrous, stainless steel, and ferrous scrap markets during the International Material Recycling Conference (IMRC) held in Jaipur on 20-22 January 2026, as traders, recyclers, and consumers converted negotiations into confirmed transactions despite mixed global price signals.

Aluminium scrap

Imported

• Tense scrap (USA): 4-5 loads (100 t) at $2,100/t CFR West Coast India.
• Zorba 98/2 (UK): 4 loads (80 t) at $2,350/t CFR Mundra.
• Zorba 95/3 (US): 2,000 t at $2,480/t CFR West Coast India.
• Wheel scrap (UK): 25 t at $2,980/t CFR Nhava Sheva.
• Taint Tabor (US, 5%): 400 t at around $2,300/t CFR Nhava Sheva.
• Taint Tabor (Australia, 2%): 200 t traded around $2,400/t CFR Mundra.

Domestic (Scrap & semis)

• Tense scrap: 80-85 t bought at INR 206,000/t ex-Delhi.
• Tense scrap: 20 t sold at INR 206,000/t ex-Chennai.
• EC aluminium rods: 55 t sold at INR 298,000/t ex-Faridabad.
• CG aluminium rods: 50 t sold at INR 280,000/t ex-Faridabad.

Copper scrap

Imported

• Birch Cliff scrap (UAE): 1,000 t at 91.75% of LME, CIF Mundra
• Candy Berry scrap (UAE): 2 container loads (40 t) at 96% of LME, CIF Mundra.
• Brass Honey scrap (UAE, 4% impurity): 2 container loads (40 t) at 58% of 3M LME, CIF Mundra.
• Millberry scrap (US to China): 80-100 t at 99.5% of LME CIF Mundra.
• Copper meatball scrap (Australia, ~20%): 2 loads (40 t) at $2,330/t CIF Mundra.

Domestic

• Brass Honey scrap: 80-100 t at INR 670,000/t ex-Jamnagar.
• Copper cable scrap: 35 t at INR 1,165,000/t ex-Delhi.

Copper semis (Domestic & imported)

• Secondary CCR: 50 t at INR 1,180,000/t ex-Palghar.
• Copper CC rods: 45 t at INR 1,210,000/t ex-Gujarat.
• Copper brass ingots: 100 t at 60% of LME, CIF China.

Zinc

• Zinc scrap: 50 t traded at 83-84% of LME.
• Zinc dross (92-94%): 25 t sold at INR 253,000/t ex-Delhi.
• SHG zinc: 25 t sold at INR 337,000/t ex-Delhi.
• SHG zinc: 40 t sold at INR 318,000/t ex-Delhi.

Lead

• Pure lead (99.98%): 25 t sold at INR 190,000/t ex-Kolkata.
• Lead ingot (1% Sb): 30 t sold at INR 198,000/t DAP Hyderabad.

Stainless steel scrap

Imported

• SS 304 (Indonesia): 500 t at $1,250/t CFR Mundra.
• SS 304 (Malaysia): 400 t at $1,280/t CFR Mundra.
• SS 304 (Singapore): 200 t at $1,270/t CFR Mundra.
• SS 304 (Philippines): 200 t at $1,280/t CFR Mundra.
• SS 304 (open origin): 30 t at $1,280-1,290/t CFR Nhava Sheva
• SS 316 (open origin): 100 t at $2,450/t CFR West Coast India.
• SS 201 (Malaysia): 200 t at $670/t CFR Mundra.
• Zurik SS (US, 93-94%): 150-200 t at $1,250-1,260/t CFR Nhava Sheva.
• Zurik SS (US origin): 500 t at $1220/t CFR Mundra.

Domestic

• SS 304: 200 t sold at INR 115,000/t ex-Delhi.
• SS 316: 300 t sold at INR 215,000/t ex-Delhi.
• SS 304: 300 t booked at INR 116,000/t FOR Mumbai.
• SS 316: 300 t booked at INR 219,000/t FOR Mumbai.

Ferrous scrap (Imported)

Bulk

• Japan-origin bulk cargo: 25,000 t (H1/H2, busheling, shredded) at $370/t (avg) CFR Chattogram.

Containerised

• HMS hand-loaded (Latin America-origin): 500 t at $360/t CFR Mundra.
• HMS (Africa-origin, 1% impurity): 500 t at $355/t CFR Mundra.
• Shredded scrap (Canada-origin): 500 t at $362/t CFR Nhava Sheva.

Post-conference sentiment remains cautiously optimistic, but buying is expected to stay selective. INR weakness has lifted the effective import cost, with the exchange rate nearing INR 92, while sharp LME volatility has heightened price risks. As a result, participants are sticking to need-based restocking. Import bookings into the southern and western coasts of India remained limited, with buyers waiting for clearer currency and price stability.