Middle East Copper Scrap Market: Infrastructure Demand and Saudi Arabia's Leadership

The Middle East copper scrap market focuses on the collection, sorting and recycling of copper scrap, sourced from discarded electrical wires and old plumbing pipes to industrial offcuts. Polaris Market Research reports that the market was valued at USD 304.71 million in 2024, with a 2025 estimate of USD 323.91 million, and is projected to reach USD 575.75 million by 2034, registering a CAGR of 6.6% from 2025 to 2034. Saudi Arabia was the largest market in 2024.

Infrastructure as the Core Demand Driver

Polaris states that demand is primarily driven by the region's vast infrastructure and construction projects, which require copper for wiring, cables and plumbing. As large projects are completed and new ones begin, construction waste and demolitions of older structures provide a consistent supply of scrap.

The report cites the International Energy Agency's World Energy Investment 2024 report, which notes that countries including Saudi Arabia are targeting massive public investments in infrastructure under initiatives such as Vision 2030. These include new cities and extensive transportation networks, with projects such as the Riyadh Metro driving the need for copper.

Feed Material and Grade Leaders

By feed material, the old scrap segment held the largest share in 2024. This material comes from products at the end of their useful life, such as old electrical cables from building demolitions, worn-out plumbing pipes and end-of-life electronics. Polaris attributes its dominance to the region's massive urbanization and infrastructure projects, as older buildings and systems are torn down or renovated. The sheer volume of this material makes it the most significant part of the market, as it is readily available from residential and commercial sources that are being updated.

By scrap grade, the #2 copper scrap segment led the market in 2024. This grade consists of unalloyed copper wire, pipes or other solid metals that may have a bit of coating or solder on them. It is widely available from old buildings and infrastructure projects and, being less pure than higher grades, is more affordable. This makes it a popular choice in modular construction and manufacturing applications where the highest purity is not required.

Application and End-Use Demand

By application, wire rod mills held the largest revenue share in 2024. These mills process scrap into continuous copper rods used to produce wires and cables, and demand is attributed to massive construction projects and the expansion of electrical grids and telecommunication networks. By end use, building and construction dominated the revenue share, with copper used extensively in roofing, electrical wiring and plumbing.

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 :

https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/middle-east-copper-scrap-market 

Saudi Arabia's Role

The Saudi Arabia market accounted for the largest share in 2024, heavily influenced by the country's ambitious Vision 2030 plan. The national strategy creates a wave of construction and industrial projects, including new cities and large-scale infrastructure, generating demand for copper in electrical systems and plumbing. These projects also produce significant volumes of copper scrap from demolition and manufacturing. The government's push to promote domestic production and diversify the economy encourages the recycling of copper to support local industries. A focus on smart city initiatives and technological advancements in Saudi Arabia and the UAE also accelerates demand for recycled copper in applications such as advanced wiring and smart infrastructure, while the expansion of new urban centers and transport systems generates scrap from old infrastructure being replaced.

Competitive Landscape

Polaris describes the industry as fragmented, with a mix of local trading companies, large-scale processors and international firms. Smaller enterprises mostly handle local collection and trading, while larger firms focus on high-volume processing and international export. Key companies include H A Z Scrap Trading LLC, Lucky Recycling, PGI Group, Planet Green Recycling LLC, Sharif Metals Group and WaterLink Corp. The report's coverage also lists limited recycling infrastructure among the restraints.

Conclusion

The Middle East Copper Scrap Market is positioned to benefit from growing demand for recycled metals across construction, electrical equipment, manufacturing, and infrastructure projects. Copper scrap provides an important secondary raw material that can help reduce dependence on newly mined copper. Increasing emphasis on resource efficiency and circular economy practices may encourage recycling and recovery activities. Investments in collection networks, sorting technologies, and processing facilities could improve regional supply capabilities. However, scrap availability, price volatility, quality consistency, and cross-border trade regulations may affect market performance. Future growth will depend on efficient recycling infrastructure, transparent trading practices, and sustained demand from copper-consuming industries.

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