- India’s aluminium scrap imports rise 15% y-o-y
- MECL begins drilling to boost copper reserves
At the close of trading for the week ended 5 December 2025, base metals on the London Metal Exchange (LME) recorded broadly positive movements w-o-w, with copper leading the gains after rising about 3.83% to $11,617/tonne (t) w-o-w. Meanwhile, LME warehouse inventories showed mixed trends, with zinc recording the sharpest increase of 7% w-o-w.
On the LME, three-month aluminium settled at $2,893/t, up 0.87% w-o-w, while zinc gained 1.23% to $3,093/t. Copper ended the week at $11,617/t, marking a 3.83% rise, and lead prices increased by 1.89% to $2,018/t. Nickel stood at $14,920/t, up 0.61% w-o-w.
Aluminium
India’s imported aluminium scrap prices saw an uptrend w-o-w, following an increase in the London Metal Exchange (LME) price levels. BigMint assessed UAE-origin Tense scrap at $1,925/tonne (t), up by $15/t w-o-w, while UK-origin Taint Tabor C/S (9-10%) stood at $2,010/t, firm w-o-w.
India’s aluminium scrap market moved through the first 10 months of 2025 with a combination of resilience and urgency driven largely by global supply realignments and persistent domestic shortages. Over the first 10 months of the year (10MCY’25), the country imported 1.65 million tonnes (mnt) of aluminium scrap, marking a 15% increase from 1.44 mnt in the corresponding period of 2024.
BigMint data shows that average OEM ADC12 prices for November increased month on month in Delhi and Pune, reaching INR 232,000/t and INR 231,000/t respectively. Chennai recorded an average price of INR 230,500/t.
Copper
Imported copper scrap prices in India moved higher w-o-w on 4 December, supported by positive momentum in LME futures. Domestic scrap prices also firmed as market sentiment stabilised, and activity recovered from the post-festive slowdown. Buying remained cautious, however, with LMEs brief move toward the $11,500/t mark tempering aggressive restocking.
Cathode inflows, however, remained uneven, especially during early 2025, when the market faced certification delays, tighter compliance windows, and disrupted shipment schedules. Consequently, imports fell by 14% y-o-y to 204,240 t in 10MCY’25.
Copper wire imports increased 2.4% to 142,621 t in 10M CY2025, compared with 139,258 t in the same period last year. Copper pipes and tubes imports fell 9.5% to 88,907 t, down from 98,249 t in 10M CY2024.
India’s copper scrap imports increased by 39% to 365,600 tonnes (t) in January-October 2025 (10MCY’25) compared to 262,500 t, supported by competitive global pricing, persistent domestic supply gaps, and robust downstream demand.
Zinc
India’s zinc scrap and dross market witnessed an upward movement this week, with prices strengthening on sustained demand from local processors. BigMint assessed zinc diecast scrap (Middle East origin) at $2,415/tonne (t) CFR west coast India, up by $25/t w-o-w, amid steady inquiry levels.
Domestic zinc spot prices stood at INR 330,000/t exw-Delhi, up by 4.77% w-o-w. HZL zinc prices were up by 5.22% w-o-w to INR 334,000/t ex-Chanderiya.
Lead
Domestic primary lead ingot prices stood at INR 193,000/t, up by 0.25% w-o-w, while re-melted ingots stood at INR 183,600/t, up by 1% w-o-w.
Meanwhile, HZL lead prices stood at INR 209,900/t ex-Chanderiya, up by 0.72% w-o-w.
Other updates
India: MECL starts copper exploration at Hindustan Coppers Kendadih Phase-IV block
The Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd. (MECL) has begun exploratory drilling at Hindustan Copper’s Kendadih Phase-IV block in Jharkhand to assess copper reserves. The project involves detailed core drilling and geological studies to map the resource potential. This initiative aims to bolster Indias domestic copper supply, supporting industrial, infrastructure, and clean energy sectors, while enhancing long-term mineral security and promoting self-reliance.
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