What are Copper Chops? (production process)
Copper chops are the output of a granulation line: insulated copper cable (household wiring, automotive harness, telecom cable, industrial power cable) is fed into a granulator that mechanically shreds the cable into 2–5 mm particles, then passes the output over an air-separation table or electrostatic separator that lifts the plastic insulation away, leaving pellet-form copper chops. High-quality chops run 99–99.5% copper by weight, with the balance being trace plastic dust and fine dust. Chops are physically similar to fine granulated Millberry but produced mechanically from insulated cable rather than starting from bare bright wire.
Copper Chops specification
Contract standard: 99% copper minimum by weight, particle size 2–5 mm, free plastic ≤ 0.5%, moisture ≤ 0.3%, iron ≤ 0.1%, tin/lead solder ≤ 0.2%. No burnt wire (burning destroys value and violates EU emissions law). Chops are packed in 1-ton PP big-bags or loose bulk depending on buyer preference. Every container ships with XRF composite chemistry and a photo dossier confirming bag count, weights and seal.
Source stream: European cable-granulation plants
Our copper chops come from licensed European cable-granulation operators processing three main input streams: post-consumer household/commercial cable from demolition and renovation, end-of-life vehicle wire harness after automotive dismantling, and utility company decommissioned power and telecom cable. Every granulation plant we source from operates under EU environmental permits with air-emission monitoring — we do not accept chops from burn-wire operations, which are illegal in the EU and produce contaminated copper unfit for refinery use.
Applications: refineries and rod mills
Chops feed the same buyers as Millberry — copper refineries and rod mills — but with two operational differences. First, chops are pellet-form and flow easily into shaft-furnace feeders, which some rod mills prefer over drawable wire. Second, chops require slightly more slag control in the furnace because trace plastic dust burns off as CO₂ and small ash. Chinese rod mills producing wire-rod for cable manufacturers are the largest buyer group. Indian and Turkish refiners take large volumes for anode-furnace feed. Brass ingot makers also use chops when high-purity copper is needed in granular form.
Container loading and shipping
Chops load in 1-ton PP big-bags stacked to 22–24 MT per 20GP container, or loose bulk in floor-lined containers at 24–26 MT (higher due to fine particle density). Bag containers ship with 22–24 bags palletised or floor-stacked; loose containers are floor-lined with heavy PP fabric to prevent fine loss. Weekly direct sailings from Rotterdam reach Shanghai/Ningbo (26–30 days), Nhava Sheva (18–22 days), Mersin (14–18 days) and Jebel Ali (20–24 days). Because chops are high-value fine material, seals and container-integrity photos are critical.
Quality control and third-party inspection
Inbound chops are sampled per delivery (2 kg composite per truck), XRF-tested for copper purity and screened for plastic content, moisture and free iron. Rejected lots are returned to the granulator operator. Accepted material is bagged, weighed and lot-numbered. Third-party inspection by SGS, BV, Intertek or CCIC is arranged at the loading yard on the buyer's request — inspectors witness bagging or bulk loading, draw representative composite samples, apply seals and issue certificate. Chinese CCIC and Indian BIS certificates are provided as required.
LME-linked pricing for Copper Chops
Chops quote at a small discount to LME Copper Grade A settlement — typically 90–95% of LME CIF Shanghai, slightly wider than Millberry (95–98%) because refinery yield is marginally lower due to trace plastic content. Written CIF/FOB quotes issued within 24 hours of RFQ, valid 48 hours subject to LME. High LME days produce the widest premium over lower ISRI grades.
Documentation and export compliance
Every shipment includes commercial invoice, packing list, weighbridge tickets, container/bag photos, bill of lading, EUR.1, and EU Annex VII waste-shipment movement document. Basel Convention compliant. Radiation-portal cleared. Destination-country pre-shipment inspection certificate provided (CCIC / BIS / TSE). Chops from burn-wire operations are not exported — we source only from EU-permitted granulation plants.