How to Buy Copper Scrap in Bulk for Export from the USA

For refiners and traders outside the United States, American copper scrap is a reliable, well-graded feedstock — if you know how the export process works. This guide walks through the minimum order, the Incoterms that decide who pays for what, payment structures for new versus established buyers, and how a container of copper actually leaves the port of Miami.

Step 1 — Decide on grade and volume

Start by fixing the grade you need: mill berry (ISRI Barley), copper wire scrap, copper cathode, or ingot bars. Each carries a different discount to the LME benchmark and a different yield for your furnace. If you're still comparing, our copper grades guide lays them out side by side.

For international export, the minimum order is 5 × 20ft containers — approximately 110–120 metric tonnes depending on grade. Containers can be filled with a single grade or mixed grades, which is useful when you want a trial mix before committing to a single-grade program.

Step 2 — Understand the Incoterms

Incoterms® are the international rules that define exactly where the seller's responsibility ends and yours begins. Atlas Copper supports the three most common for bulk metals:

New buyers often start with FOB if they have their own freight forwarder, or CIF if they'd rather the supplier handle freight and insurance end-to-end.

Step 3 — Agree payment terms

Payment terms scale with trust and track record:

• New international buyers typically work on 30% advance TT (telegraphic transfer) and 70% against shipping documents.
• Established buyers may qualify for a Letter of Credit at sight or NET 30 terms based on order history.

This staged structure protects both sides: you're not paying 100% up front to an unfamiliar supplier, and the seller isn't shipping six figures of metal on a handshake.

Step 4 — Inspect before you ship

Confidence in grade is everything in cross-border metals trade. Two options protect you:

• Visit the facility. International buyers are welcome to inspect stock and operations at the Miami yard before committing.
• Third-party pre-shipment inspection. Independent inspection by SGS, Bureau Veritas, or Cotecna can be arranged on request, with grade and weight documentation traceable to the lot and certified ASTM Mill Test Reports where required.

Step 5 — Loading, documents, and sailing

Once grade, Incoterm, and payment are agreed, the order is processed and containers are loaded at the yard, then drayed to Port Everglades or PortMiami — two of the most active container gateways on the US East Coast, with direct services to Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia. Typical lots ship within 3–7 days. You receive the bill of lading and supporting export documents per the agreed terms, and the 70% balance (or LC) is settled against documents.

Frequently asked questions