The　rise　in　industrialization　and　urbanization　has　elevated　consumer　lifestyles　and　has　dramatically　increased　copper　consumption　in　the　past　three　decades.　Due　to　the　growing　scarcity　of　copper　ore　and　lower　manufacturing　costs　associated　with　using　recycled　copper,　copper　recycling　has　gained　increasing　attention.　Because　of　the　uneven　geographical　distribution　of　scrap　copper,　the　international　scrap　copper　trade　has　formed　and　is　experiencing　rapid　growth.　This　study　applies　complex　network　theory　to　map　the　structural　evolution　of　the　global　scrap　copper　trade　from　1988　to　2017　according　to　the　UN-Comtrade　database.　The　results　show　that　the　global　scrap　copper　trade　has　been　reshaped　from　the　pre-existing　geopolitical　realities　through　the　interaction　of　geopolitical　relations　and　geo-economics.　The　America-Asia　community　is　the　largest　trading　community　and　is　driven　by　the　USA　and　China.　China　is　the　largest　recipient　of　scrap　copper　due　to　a　lack　of　self-sufficiency　with　respect　to　copper　and　scrap　copper　resources.　India　is　considered　another　long-term　potential　market　for　exporters,　which　can　result　in　reducing　dependence　on　a　single　market　such　as　China.　These　findings,　together　with　policy-related　discussions,　help　authorities　understand　the　complex　international　scrap　copper　trade　relationships　and　propose　effective　import-export　policies　to　reduce　the　risk　of　trade　disruption.　(C)　2020　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.