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Raw materials

Import copper scrap

2.5% basic duty, 18% IGST, NFMIMS registration and a pre-shipment inspection certificate. USA and Saudi Arabia lead.

Free, with conditionsHS 7404
Basic customs duty
2.5%
2.5%
Social welfare surcharge
10% of BCD
IGST
18%
18%
India’s imports, 2025-26
US$ 3.43 bn
from 127 countries

The tariff rate for all lines of 7404 00 is 2.5% (Customs Tariff as on 30.06.2025), and notification 45/2025-Customs has no further concession. IGST on copper waste and scrap is 18% (Schedule II, notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)). Check the current rate on ICEGATE. CBIC — Customs Tariff of India (as on 30.06.2025) ↗

What is imported

Copper and brass scrap feeds re-rolling mills, wire makers and brass parts clusters such as Jamnagar. Imports under 7404 rose to about US$ 3.4 billion in FY 2025-26 from US$ 2.4 billion (TradeStat). The USA supplied 25%, Saudi Arabia 17%, then the UAE, Germany and the UK.

Import policy · Free, with conditions

Free, subject to registration under DGFT’s Non-Ferrous Metal Import Monitoring System (NFMIMS), the metal-scrap conditions of the Foreign Trade Policy (pre-shipment inspection certificate) and the Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules, 2016.

Licences and registrations you need

  • DGFT (NFMIMS)Online registration of the consignment on the Non-Ferrous Metal Import Monitoring System before the bill of entry is filed.imports.gov.in ↗
  • DGFT (pre-shipment inspection agencies)Pre-shipment inspection certificate for metal scrap from an inspection agency recognised by DGFT, stating the scrap is free of arms, explosives and radioactive material.dgft.gov.in ↗
  • CPCB / State Pollution Control BoardCompliance with the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, including the import documents they list and your unit’s consent to operate.cpcb.nic.in ↗

What is checked at the port

  • Customs checks the pre-shipment inspection certificate and may examine containers for radioactive material and arms.
  • The declared scrap grade (ISRI names such as Berry, Birch, Honey) and copper content are checked against samples.
  • Unshredded scrap can be cleared only at the ports notified for it.

Practical tips

  • Buy by ISRI grade with a guaranteed copper content and a penalty for impurities.
  • Use a DGFT-recognised inspection agency at the loading point and ask for loading photos per container.

Where new importers go wrong

  • Mixed or lower-grade scrap declared as a higher grade — leads to valuation disputes and penalties.
  • Missing or invalid pre-shipment inspection certificate, which holds the whole shipment.
Sources (8)
  1. CBIC — Customs Tariff of India (as on 30.06.2025)
  2. CBIC — Notification 45/2025-Customs (effective duty rates), 24 Oct 2025, as amended
  3. CBIC — Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate), 17 Sep 2025 (IGST rates from 22 Sep 2025)
  4. DGFT import monitoring systems (NFMIMS, SIMS) — imports.gov.in
  5. DGFT — ITC(HS) import policy (Schedule 1)
  6. Central Pollution Control Board — Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules, 2016
  7. Commerce Ministry TradeStat — commodity-wise imports by country (FY 2025-26)
  8. ICEGATE — Customs duty and tariff look-up

Import data

Where India buys copper scrap

India’s imports from the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, financial years.

Imports, 2025-26
US$ 3.43 bn
Change from 2024-25
+44.3%
Supplying countries
127
Biggest supplier
United States of America
25%
United States of America: US$ 866 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 572 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 260 mnGermany: US$ 217 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 197 mnKuwait: US$ 92.8 mnCanada: US$ 81.7 mnNetherlands: US$ 81.3 mnAustralia: US$ 80.4 mnBrazil: US$ 64.9 mnBelgium: US$ 64.9 mnSingapore: US$ 57.4 mnSpain: US$ 55.4 mnMalaysia: US$ 47.4 mnItaly: US$ 40.9 mnUnited States of America: US$ 866 mnUnited States of AmericaSaudi Arabia: US$ 572 mnSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 260 mnGermany: US$ 217 mnGermanyUnited Kingdom: US$ 197 mnKuwait: US$ 92.8 mnKuwaitCanada: US$ 81.7 mnNetherlands: US$ 81.3 mnAustralia: US$ 80.4 mnAustraliaBrazil: US$ 64.9 mnBrazilBelgium: US$ 64.9 mnSingapore: US$ 57.4 mnSpain: US$ 55.4 mnMalaysia: US$ 47.4 mnItaly: US$ 40.9 mnIndia
Where India imports copper scrap from — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 930 mn9302020-212021-22: US$ 1.59 bn1.6k2021-222022-23: US$ 1.65 bn1.6k2022-232023-24: US$ 1.67 bn1.7k2023-242024-25: US$ 2.38 bn2.4k2024-252025-26: US$ 3.43 bn3.4k2025-26
India’s copper scrap imports · US$ million

Biggest supplying countries

Name2025-26Change
1United States of AmericaUS$ 866 mn+201.6%
2Saudi ArabiaUS$ 572 mn+37.9%
3United Arab EmiratesUS$ 260 mn+114.4%
4GermanyUS$ 217 mn+18.8%
5United KingdomUS$ 197 mn+9.7%
6KuwaitUS$ 92.8 mn+31.8%
7CanadaUS$ 81.7 mn+87.8%
8NetherlandsUS$ 81.3 mn+45.4%
9AustraliaUS$ 80.4 mn+58.9%
10BrazilUS$ 64.9 mn-4%
11BelgiumUS$ 64.9 mn-16.1%
12SingaporeUS$ 57.4 mn+122.9%

Which sources are growing and shrinking

Growing sources

  1. United States of AmericaUS$ 287 mn → US$ 866 mn+201.6%
  2. MalaysiaUS$ 17.6 mn → US$ 47.4 mn+170.1%
  3. SpainUS$ 22.4 mn → US$ 55.4 mn+147.5%
  4. SingaporeUS$ 25.7 mn → US$ 57.4 mn+122.9%
  5. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 121 mn → US$ 260 mn+114.4%
  6. CanadaUS$ 43.5 mn → US$ 81.7 mn+87.8%

Shrinking sources

  1. BulgariaUS$ 143 mn → US$ 310k-99.8%
  2. ColombiaUS$ 76.2 mn → US$ 39.6 mn-48.1%
  3. BahrainUS$ 35 mn → US$ 25.6 mn-26.8%
  4. ItalyUS$ 49.4 mn → US$ 40.9 mn-17.2%
  5. BelgiumUS$ 77.3 mn → US$ 64.9 mn-16.1%

Which forms come in, and at what price

Imports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Copper scrap covered by isri code barley, berry ,birch,candy,cliff,...7404 00 12US$ 2.45 bn+69.1%3,15,369 tonnesUS$ 7.76 per kg
Brass scrap covered by isri code drink , ebony,enerv,elder,engel,e...7404 00 22US$ 928 mn+5.5%1,44,890 tonnesUS$ 6.41 per kg
Copper nickel scrap, includinguding the following: new cupro nickel clip...7404 00 25US$ 41.9 mn-5%4,393 tonnesUS$ 9.54 per kg
Empty or discharged cartridges of all bores and sizes of coppe...7404 00 21US$ 7.8 mn+3,024%1,294 tonnesUS$ 6.03 per kg
Copper, waste and scrap — other brass scraps7404 00 29US$ 2.6 mn+169.8%417 tonnesUS$ 6.22 per kg
Copper, waste and scrap — other copper scraps7404 00 19US$ 1.2 mn-42.4%362 tonnesUS$ 3.26 per kg
Bronze scrap includinguding the following: manganese bronze solids cover...7404 00 24US$ 290k+141.7%159 tonnesUS$ 1.82 per kg

Source: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

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