- India’s ADC12 imports slump, scrap inflows rise steadily
- Precision Wires invests INR 70 crore for capacity expansion
At the close of trading on 15 August 2025, base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) saw negative trends w-o-w, with lead witnessing the highest decline of 1.30% to $1,962/tonne (t). Meanwhile, LME warehouse stocks also exhibited negative trends, with zinc witnessing the steepest decline by 6.35%.
On the LME, three-month aluminium prices stood at $2,607/t, down by 0.08%, while nickel increased by 0.03% w-o-w to $15,161/t. Copper prices were at $9,774/t, up by 0.12% w-o-w, and lead was down by 1.30% w-o-w at $1,982/t and zinc stood at $2,795/t, down by 1.13% w-o-w.
On-warrant copper inventories in LME warehouses have climbed 22.5% since early July to 143,725 t, after US President Trump exempted copper products from the planned 50% import tariff on 31 July. The move eased US supply concerns, redirecting cargoes originally bound for the US back into global markets.
India’s imported aluminium scrap prices showed a mixed trend w-o-w, tracking the upward movement in LME prices. Strong global demand and ongoing supply constraints supported Indian prices, although subdued trading activity limited further gains.
Domestic Tense scrap stood at INR 197,000/t ex-Delhi-NCR and INR 200,000/t ex-Chennai, backed by constrained availability and robust local demand.
India’s aluminium ADC12 alloyed ingot prices range-bound m-o-m in August 2025 with marginal dips across both northern and southern India, according to BigMint‘s benchmark assessments.
BigMint’s monthly assessment for the OEM grade of ADC12 stood at INR 230,000/tonne (t) in Delhi and INR 232,000/t in Chennai.
Imported copper scrap prices in India registered a modest w-o-w gain, following a slight gain in LME copper futures to $9,773/tonne w-o-w.
According to BigMint’s assessment,copper Birch cliff scrap was assessed at $9,190/t, up by 2.62% w-o-w, while US motors mix stood at $1,165/t (both CFR Mundra), nearly stable w-o-w.
US refined copper imports had already surged 130% y-o-y in Jan-May, but with the tariff risk lifted, more material is flowing into the LME system. Stocks more than doubled in July to 121,225 t, supported by fresh production and the transfer of off-warrant metal onto warrant. Large US stockpiles remain largely unchanged.
India’s zinc scrap and dross market witnessed mixed trends this week, with prices moving in a narrow range amid steady domestic demand and firm global cues.
BigMint assessed zinc diecast scrap (Middle East origin) at $2,280/t CFR west coast India, remained stable w-o-w.
In the domestic market, zinc dross was assessed at INR 226,000/t ex-Delhi, up by INR 4,000/t week-on-week, as per BigMints latest assessment.
Prices of zinc ingots from Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) stood at INR 289,400/t ($3,309/t) ex-Chanderiya, down by INR 5,800/t w-o-w.
Lead
Domestic primary lead ingot prices stood at INR 200,500/t, down by INR 500 w-o-w, while re-melted ingots stood at INR 181,000/t, up by INR 1,000/t w-o-w.
Meanwhile, HZL lead ingots stood at INR 205,900/t ($2,354/t) ex-Chanderiya, up by INR 2,800/t w-o-w.
Other updates
Precision Wires sanctions INR 70 crore to boost copper production capacity
Precision Wires India’s board has sanctioned INR 70 crore to boost the companys copper production capacity. It approved INR 33 crore for copper rod capacity expansion — INR 28 crore at Zaroli and INR 5 crore at Valvada — and cleared a INR 37 crore expansion and modernisation project at Silvassa, to be implemented in 2026, adding 4,400 tpa by Q4FY’27. Subsequently, the company’s installed capacity will rise to approximately 65,400 t annually.
ADC12 imports slump while aluminium scrap inflows rise
India’s ADC12 alloy imports plunged 87% y-o-y in H1CY’25 to 1,511 t, largely due to delays in BIS certification for Malaysian suppliers, while aluminium scrap imports rose 9% y-o-y to 0.88 mnt as buyers sought alternatives. Despite higher inflows, raw material tightness persisted, with US exports to India dropping 14% amid tariff-driven domestic absorption. Scrap shortages kept ADC12 prices firm, supported by steady demand and constrained availability, and are likely to maintain upward pressure through H2CY’25 even as fresh Malaysian approvals improve supply.
Leave a Reply