Scrap metal in Thailand: buying copper and aluminium and checking suppliers
Copper · aluminium · brass · supplier checks
Want to buy scrap metal in Thailand at a good price? First check the supplier and the metal itself. Buyers of copper, aluminium and other scrap have come to me for years: I go to warehouses with them, check suppliers, weed out scammers, and control quality and loading.
Mike Boldyrev. 14 years in Thailand; I negotiate in Thai and work on the buyer's side.
Video (in Russian): scrap metal in Thailand
- 14 yearsliving and working in Thailand
- Site visitsto warehouses with clients or on their behalf
- Buyer's sideI don't sell metal myself; I work for you
- 1,690 ฿review of a supplier's offer by video
The scrap metal market in Thailand
Thailand is an industrialised country. Factories, shopping malls, housing and roads are built all the time, and old buildings are torn down and rebuilt. That produces a large volume of scrap: copper from wires and cables, aluminium from profiles and structures, steel from construction sites and factories.
There are many companies that collect and sort scrap. But it's hard for a foreigner to reach them: many only work with local buyers, speak little English and don't answer unknown foreigners. Calling and striking a deal straight away almost never works.
Where to look for scrap metal in Thailand
- Bangkok and Samut Prakan. In my experience, there are many scrap yards around Bang Na and in neighbouring Samut Prakan, near Suvarnabhumi Airport.
- The Eastern Seaboard. Chonburi and Rayong are a major industrial belt with factories and ports.
- Other regions. There are scrap collectors and yards in other cities too, usually on a smaller scale.
Copper in Thailand: copper scrap
Copper is what people ask me about most. There's a lot of copper scrap in Thailand: overhead wires are being removed from Bangkok's streets, and old cables go for scrap. Copper also comes from construction sites, factories and replaced electrical equipment.
Types of copper scrap
Copper scrap is sold by international grades. The cleaner the copper, the higher the price:
| Type | International name | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Bright copper wire | Barley (Bare Bright) | Clean, unoxidised wire with no insulation or coating; the most expensive copper scrap |
| No. 1 copper wire | Berry (Millberry) | Clean wire without insulation; light oxidation allowed |
| No. 1 heavy copper | Candy | Clean copper pipes, busbars and cuttings without impurities or coating |
| No. 2 copper wire | Birch | Wire with oxidation, solder residue or coating |
| No. 2 heavy copper | Cliff | Pipes and parts with paint, solder or fitting residue |
| Insulated cable | — | The price depends on the copper percentage inside |
| Radiators and mixed scrap | — | Copper mixed with other metals; lower price |
A common problem: the supplier calls the scrap Millberry or Bare Bright, but it's actually No. 2 wire or mixed with cable. The price difference is significant, so we check the grade on site.
Copper prices in Thailand
There's no fixed price for copper scrap. Scrap prices are usually tied to London Metal Exchange (LME) quotes: scrap is sold as a percentage of the exchange price, and the percentage depends on grade, purity and volume. Quotes change every day.
So I get the real price from suppliers for your specific request: grade, volume and delivery terms. If someone offers copper noticeably cheaper than everyone else, that's a reason to be wary, not to celebrate.
Aluminium and other scrap metals
Aluminium scrap
After copper, aluminium is the most requested. The main types:
- Extrusions (usually alloy 6063): window and building profiles, one of the most sought-after types.
- Sheet and mixed aluminium (Taint/Tabor): clean old sheets and cuttings of various alloys.
- Cast aluminium: engine parts, housings, castings.
- Aluminium cans (UBC), usually in pressed bales.
- Zorba: shredded mixed non-ferrous metal, mostly aluminium.
Brass and bronze
Fittings, taps, valves, cuttings. Pricier than aluminium, cheaper than copper. We check for steel contamination.
Stainless steel
Grades 304, 316 and others, from food equipment, plants and construction sites. The price depends on nickel content; the grade is checked with an analyser.
Ferrous scrap
Steel scrap, including HMS 1 and HMS 2, turnings and shredded scrap. Large volumes and a low price per tonne, so logistics decide everything.
Cable and wire
Insulated copper and aluminium cable, as is or stripped. The key question is the metal percentage inside.
Lead batteries, e-waste and some other waste are regulated or hazardous. Moving them between countries requires special permits, and importing some types into Thailand is restricted. We discuss such deals separately and only through legal channels.
Beware: scammers in the scrap metal market
Scrap metal is one of the areas where foreign buyers get cheated most often. Many times I've visited “suppliers” who turned out to be scammers. Typical signs:
- 💸Below-market priceCopper or aluminium noticeably cheaper than everyone else's.
- 🏦Payment upfrontFull or large prepayment before you've seen the metal.
- 🚪No visits allowedThey find excuses not to let you into the yard, or ask for a “visit fee”.
- 📸Someone else's photosPhotos and videos of the metal are taken from the internet or other yards.
- 👤Personal bank accountOr to a company in another country, or payment in cryptocurrency.
- 🧾Not in the company registerThe name, registration or address don't match the Thai company register.
- 📄Fake documentsAnalysis reports, certificates and loading photos that can't be verified.
- ⏰Time pressure“Today's price only”, “two containers left, decide fast”.
- 🔗A chain of middlemenThe real yard owner is unknown; talks go through several “agents”.
Real suppliers can cheat too, during loading:
- good metal on top, low-grade or mixed underneath;
- stones, soil, concrete or rubbish are added to the container for weight;
- the batch is swapped after inspection;
- weight or moisture is inflated, or part of the metal “goes missing”.
That's why checks are needed not only before the deal, but also on loading day.
How to check the metal's quality and availability
- Yard visit. We make sure the yard is real and the metal belongs to this supplier.
- Volume check. Whether the full promised volume is there now, not “in a week”.
- Inspection and grading. Whether the metal matches the stated grade, with no mixing or rubbish.
- Magnet. A quick test to tell non-ferrous metal from steel.
- XRF analyser. The exact composition of stainless steel, aluminium alloys and brass.
- Weighing. The batch is weighed on scales during loading.
- Loading supervision. Being present at loading, with photos and video of each stage.
- Seal. A photo of the container with the seal number after closing.
- Independent inspection. For large batches, an international inspection company can be brought in.
A safe deal structure
- Check the company in the Thai register and visit the yard.
- A contract with a company, not an individual: grade, weight, price, tolerances, delivery terms.
- Inspection and analysis of the metal before paying the main amount.
- A safe payment method: letter of credit, payment against documents, or staged payment after checks.
- Loading supervision and a photo of the seal.
- Tracking the shipment to your port.
Never pay 100% upfront to an unknown supplier, to a personal account or in crypto.
Documents and shipping
- You usually need an invoice, packing list, weight list, certificate of origin, loading photos and, if required, an inspection report.
- Exporting some types of scrap from Thailand may require extra permits, and some countries require pre-shipment inspection. We check your country's requirements in advance.
- Shipping is by sea in containers: loose, in bales or big bags. We plan the load with a freight forwarder; clearance is handled by a licensed customs broker.
How I help you buy scrap metal in Thailand
- Your requestMetal, grade, volume, delivery terms and destination country.
- Search or checkI find suppliers or check yours: register, calls in Thai, reputation.
- Yard visitI go with you or for you, check availability and quality, take photos and video.
- NegotiationsPrice, grade, weight, payment and delivery terms, in Thai.
- Loading controlI attend the loading, check the metal and weight, and record the seal.
- ShippingDocuments, forwarder and broker, tracking the cargo to your port.
Many clients have come to me wanting to buy scrap metal in Thailand. I went to yards with them, found out who was a real company and who was a scammer, checked the metal and supervised shipment. Quite a few “great deals” turned out to be fake before the first payment, and the clients kept their money.
Prices
up to 30 min: we go through a supplier's offer or your request
up to 4 hours: a yard visit or meeting in Bangkok
up to 8 hours: yards, loading, negotiations, trips outside Bangkok
All prices include 7% VAT. I estimate the scope in advance and confirm it in writing before payment.
Outside Bangkok, the minimum is a full day, travel time included. Transport, metal analysis, inspection, duties and broker services are paid separately. Payment is by PromptPay, bank transfer in Thailand or SWIFT from abroad.
Please note: I'm an independent buyer's representative and don't sell metal myself. I only work on legal deals with transparent payments. Customs clearance is done by licensed brokers, and legal review of contracts by licensed lawyers.
Frequently asked questions
How much does copper cost in Thailand?
The price of copper scrap is tied to exchange quotes and depends on grade, purity and volume. It changes daily, so I get the current price from suppliers for your request.
Can I buy scrap metal in Thailand below market price?
You can get a good price through a direct supplier, volume and negotiation. But if the price is far below market, it's almost always a sign of fraud.
Can I see the metal before paying?
Yes, and it's essential. I go to the yard with you or for you, check the metal and send photos and video.
What's the minimum volume?
Most suppliers work from one container. Exact terms depend on the metal and the supplier.
Can you check a supplier without me coming?
Yes. Many clients work this way: I check the company, yard and metal on site and send a detailed report with photos and video.
Can scrap metal be exported to my country?
It depends on the metal and your country's requirements. Some types of scrap need extra permits or inspection; we check in advance.
Do you only work with Russia?
No. Most requests come from Russia and the CIS, but I work with buyers from many countries; terms are discussed individually.
You may also need
Send me the supplier's offer and I'll tell you whether to trust it
Or describe the metal you need: grade, volume and destination country. I'll tell you where to start and what my work will cost.