Why industrial buyers source copper scrap from Europe
European copper scrap is preferred by Chinese, Indian, Turkish and Korean refiners because the source streams are well documented: industrial off-cuts from cable manufacturers, transformer dismantling, electrical fabricators and licensed end-of-life vehicle recyclers. The material is sorted under verifiable EN 13920 and ISRI classifications, packaged for ocean transit and shipped with full pre-shipment inspection documents. As a European exporter we maintain rolling stock of Millberry, Berry and Birch/Cliff so buyers can plan monthly tonnage rather than chase spot lots.
ISRI specifications we honour
Our copper grades are offered to written ISRI Circular specifications. Millberry — ISRI Code 'Barley' — bare bright uncoated copper wire 99.95% Cu min, 1/16 inch and over, free of burnt wire that is brittle. Berry/Candy — ISRI Code 'Berry' / 'Candy' — clean uncoated unalloyed copper wire under 1/16 inch. Birch/Cliff — ISRI 'Birch' (#1 heavy copper, 96%) and 'Cliff' (#2 mixed copper, 94%) — heavy and miscellaneous copper free of attachments, plating and tinned material beyond tolerance. Each shipment includes a written specification clause on the contract.
Inspection process at the Rotterdam yard
Inbound copper is weighed on a calibrated 60-ton weighbridge, photographed lot-by-lot, then visually graded against ISRI master samples. Random bundles are clipped and re-checked for plating, oxidation and oil. We support third-party pre-shipment inspection from SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek or CCIC — the inspector observes container stuffing, takes representative samples, applies seals and issues the inspection certificate before B/L release. Buyers receive a photo dossier of every container before vessel departure.
Packaging and container loading
Millberry and Berry load loose in lined 20GP containers at 22–24 MT per box, or pressed bales of 250–500 kg for buyers handling material via crane. Birch/Cliff heavy copper loads loose at 23–25 MT per 20GP. Insulated copper cable can be loaded loose or in 1-ton bulk bags. All containers are floor-lined, photo-documented, weight-verified and sealed with high-security bolts; seal numbers print on the packing list and the B/L.
Export documentation and compliance
Every container ships with commercial invoice, packing list, weight tickets, EUR.1 (where applicable), Bill of Lading and EU Annex VII waste shipment movement document for non-OECD destinations. Shipments comply with Regulation (EC) 1013/2006, the Basel Convention and the destination country's pre-shipment inspection regime (BIS for India, AQSIQ/CCIC for China, TSE for Turkey). Documents are couriered or sent electronically to the buyer's bank under 30% TT advance / 70% LC at sight by default.
LME-linked discount pricing
Every Nautica copper offer is quoted as a discount to the LME 3-month Grade A copper settlement, fixed at the time the buyer confirms the contract. Millberry trades at the tightest discount, Berry slightly wider, Birch wider still, and Cliff/insulated wire at the largest discount because of recovery yield. The discount captures freight, packaging, inspection and our margin. Buyers see exactly which LME date is used, which premium or discount applies, and the resulting USD/MT figure.
Rotterdam logistics and sailing schedule
Loading is done at our Rotterdam-area yard with direct gate access to ECT, APMT and RWG terminals. Weekly direct sailings cover Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Chittagong, Port Klang, Ho Chi Minh, Busan, Shanghai, Tianjin, Mersin, Jebel Ali, Dar es Salaam and Houston. Average transit: 18–22 days to West India, 26–32 days to East Asia, 14–18 days to Turkey, 28–35 days to East Africa.
Order process for first-time buyers
RFQ with grade, tonnage, destination port and payment terms → written CIF/FOB offer within 24 hours → signed sales contract → 30% TT advance → loading & inspection within 7–14 days → 70% LC at sight or TT against scanned B/L → original documents released. New buyers receive sample photos and a yard video before the first container ships.
Who we sell to
Secondary copper refiners producing cathode and anode, brass mill bar/rod producers, copper rod & wire drawing plants, transformer manufacturers, and licensed scrap importers holding BIS, CCIC, MOEF, or equivalent destination-country permits. We do not retail to consumers or unverified traders — buyers must provide company registration and import licence before contract.
Quality guarantee
Each Nautica copper contract includes a written quality clause: if independent inspection at discharge port shows the material falls outside the contracted ISRI tolerance by more than the agreed 2% allowance, we credit the difference at the contract discount. Disputes are settled per LME arbitration rules. This contractual backing is one reason Nautica copper repeat-purchase rate exceeds 80%.