India: Brass honey scrap prices soften w-o-w on limited activity; imports rise in May'26

• Ample supply, liquidity concerns pressure market sentiment
  
  
• Imports rise by 6% m-o-m in May amid improving shipments
  
  

India's brass honey scrap prices remained stable w-o-w on 19 June 2026, pressured by subdued demand and softer global prices. BigMint's assessment placed brass honey scrap prices at around INR 810,000/t exw-Jamnagar, stable w-o-w as comfortable imported scrap availability and balanced downstream buying activity kept the market largely stable during the week.

The market was also influenced by softer global copper prices. London Metal Exchange (LME) copper prices fell by around $80/t w-o-w to nearly $13,650/t on 12 June 2026, which put slight pressure on imported scrap offers and domestic market sentiment. However, the impact was limited, as most participants were already cautious about fresh purchases.

Market sentiment in the brass honey scrap segment remained subdued during the week, with prices in Jamnagar and western India largely stable at around INR 808,000-810,000/t. The narrow price movement reflected a market that was adequately supplied but lacked strong buying momentum.

Procurement activity remained largely need-based, as most brass manufacturers continued to purchase only against confirmed orders. Industry participants indicated that existing inventories were sufficient to meet near-term production requirements, limiting the urgency for fresh bookings despite sellers offering flexible deal terms.

Trading volumes remained below normal levels, with liquidity concerns continuing to influence purchasing decisions. Several market participants reported cautious cash management practices, resulting in delayed buying decisions and reduced appetite for building inventory positions.

On the supply front, imported brass scrap arrivals from the UAE and Europe continued to supplement domestic availability. Although import bookings have moderated compared to earlier months, material availability in the market remained comfortable, preventing any significant supply-side pressure on prices.

Overall, the brass honey scrap market remained range-bound, with balanced availability offsetting weak consumption trends. Market participants are closely monitoring downstream order inflows, as any improvement in manufacturing activity could provide support to trading volumes in the coming weeks.

Imports rise in May'26

Imported brass honey scrap arrivals rose to 8,668 t in May 2026, up around 6% m-o-m from 8,200 t in April, indicating a gradual improvement in overseas supply availability. The increase was mainly supported by steady shipments from traditional supplying regions, including Europe and the Middle East. However, despite higher arrivals, domestic buying interest remained subdued, resulting in comfortable material availability across key consumption centres and limiting any significant upward pressure on prices.

Additionally, with the Strait of Hormuz expected to reopen following easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, market participants anticipate a gradual resumption of trade flows and metal shipments in the coming weeks. Improved logistics could increase the availability of imported brass scrap from key supplying regions and ease supply concerns.

Current deal levels for brass honey scrap are reported at around 60% of LME in Europe (6-7% Zn) and approximately 65% of LME in the US, which may come under pressure if trade flows normalise and material availability improves.