Question 1

What is copper millberry?

Accepted Answer

Millberry is the trade name for ISRI Barley grade: bare-bright copper wire of 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) and over, 99.90% Cu minimum, free of coatings.

Question 2

What is the difference between Millberry, Berry and Candy?

Accepted Answer

Millberry/Barley is the cleanest bare-bright wire. Berry is clean unalloyed copper of any size. Candy is heavier No.1 copper (pipes, busbars). Each has its own ISRI spec.

Question 3

What does Birch mean?

Accepted Answer

ISRI Birch is No.1 copper wire of any size with slight oxidation — green or brown surface — but no coatings. Sold at a small discount to bare-bright.

Question 4

What is Cliff copper?

Accepted Answer

ISRI Cliff is No.2 copper wire and miscellaneous, up to 6% impurities including light coatings, tinning or solder. Discounted vs Birch.

Question 5

What is the difference between No.1 and No.2 copper?

Accepted Answer

No.1 is 99.0%+ Cu, clean, uncoated. No.2 can be 94–96% Cu with light tin/solder/paint. No.1 sells at a tighter LME discount.

Question 6

What is insulated copper wire (ICW)?

Accepted Answer

Copper wire still in its PVC/rubber insulation. Sold by declared Cu content; the buyer or a third-party processor strips it at destination.

Question 7

What is the typical purity of Millberry?

Accepted Answer

99.90% Cu minimum on Barley, with smelter recovery exceeding 99.95% on assay.

Question 8

What is the HS Code for copper scrap?

Accepted Answer

7404.00 covers all copper waste and scrap globally.

Question 9

Do you supply copper cathode?

Accepted Answer

We focus on scrap. Cathode is a separate refined product; we can refer trusted cathode suppliers to existing scrap accounts.

Question 10

How is copper scrap priced?

Accepted Answer

Every offer references the LME 3-month Copper Grade A settlement on the quotation date, less a transparent discount for grade, packaging, freight and margin.

Question 11

Where can I see the LME copper price?

Accepted Answer

Live LME data is available at lme.com. We quote against the official 3-month settlement on the quotation date.

Question 12

Why does the discount vary by grade?

Accepted Answer

Discount reflects metal recovery in the buyer's furnace. Barley recovers 99.95%; Berry, Birch and Cliff progressively less. The discount widens to compensate.

Question 13

Are your quotations valid for how long?

Accepted Answer

48 hours subject to LME movement on spot. Rolling contracts use a monthly LME average to remove daily volatility.

Question 14

Do you offer CIF or FOB?

Accepted Answer

Both. CIF is most common for first-time buyers; FOB is preferred by buyers with their own ocean freight contracts.

Question 15

Can I get a fixed monthly price?

Accepted Answer

Long-term contracts use a monthly LME average rather than a fixed price, to fairly allocate market movement to both sides.

Question 16

Which inspection companies do you accept?

Accepted Answer

SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, CCIC and TÜV. The buyer instructs the inspector directly.

Question 17

Who pays for the inspection?

Accepted Answer

The buyer. We invoice the cost at actual with no mark-up.

Question 18

Do you retain samples?

Accepted Answer

Yes — representative samples from each loading lot are retained 90 days against any buyer assay challenge.

Question 19

Can I send my own surveyor?

Accepted Answer

Yes — buyers or their nominated surveyors are welcome at our Rotterdam yard during loading.

Question 20

What if the chemistry differs from the contract?

Accepted Answer

Re-test the retained sample at an independent EU lab. The re-test is binding. To date our retained-sample programme has resolved every dispute on first re-test.

Question 21

What payment terms do you accept?

Accepted Answer

30% TT advance plus 70% LC at sight or TT against scan copy of B/L is standard. 100% LC at sight is available to established buyers.

Question 22

Do you accept open account?

Accepted Answer

After three successful shipments and against credit insurance, yes.

Question 23

What is your MOQ?

Accepted Answer

25 MT — one full container load (FCL).

Question 24

Can I split a container across grades?

Accepted Answer

We strongly recommend single-grade containers. Mixed cargoes are discounted to the lowest grade in the container.

Question 25

How long is a sales contract?

Accepted Answer

Spot contracts cover a single shipment. Rolling contracts can be quarterly, semi-annual or annual with monthly tonnage commitments.

Question 26

Where do you load from?

Accepted Answer

Our yard sits in the Rotterdam port area with direct gate access to ECT, APMT and RWG terminals.

Question 27

What is the transit time to India?

Accepted Answer

18–22 days direct Rotterdam → Nhava Sheva.

Question 28

What is the transit time to China?

Accepted Answer

28–32 days direct Rotterdam → Shanghai.

Question 29

What is the transit time to Turkey?

Accepted Answer

14–18 days direct Rotterdam → Mersin.

Question 30

Do you ship to Africa?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Lagos, Dakar and other West/East African ports on weekly direct sailings.

Question 31

What is the booking lead time?

Accepted Answer

7–14 days from contract signature and 30% advance receipt.

Question 32

Can you arrange door delivery?

Accepted Answer

Yes — CIF terms can be extended to DAP at the buyer's warehouse for additional inland trucking cost.

Copper Scrap FAQ — Buyer Questions Answered

Grades and specifications

Pricing and quotation

Inspection and quality

Payment terms and contracts

Shipping and logistics

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