Armco Metals
China Armco Metals (OTCPINK: AMCO) is a Hong Kong-headquartered metal ore and scrap distributor that sources from over 100 companies across 10 countries and sells into China's steel industry through a nationwide sales network across three divisions.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersSan Mateo, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Armco Metals does
China Armco Metals, Inc. (OTCPINK: AMCO) is a U.S.-incorporated holding company that, through its Hong Kong subsidiary Armco & Metawise (H.K.) Ltd. and Mainland China subsidiary Henan Metawise, distributes metal ore, steel scrap, and non-ferrous metals into the Chinese market. Its product portfolio spans iron ore, nickel ore, chrome ore, copper ore, zinc ore, and steel scrap, sourced from an international network spanning 10 countries and over 100 supplier or partner counterparties, and sold through a sales network that the company states covers all major provinces of China. The firm operates three reported divisions — Armco Metal, Henan Metawise, and Armet Renewable — with the renewable-materials arm representing a diversification beyond traditional ferrous and non-ferrous trading.
The business model is commodity intermediation: Armco purchases metal ore and scrap from international suppliers and resells to Chinese downstream buyers, principally steel mills and related industrial consumers, capturing a distribution margin on cross-border flows. The company's value proposition rests on its cross-border sourcing relationships, its Hong Kong corporate platform for international trade, and its Mainland China distribution footprint. Leadership is Kexuan Yao (Chairman & CEO) and Fengtao Wen (CFO), with 51–100 reported employees. The company is publicly listed on OTC Markets under the ticker AMCO, and in 2014 acquired Draco Resources. Public-facing information is dated, with the last noted financial results appearing as Q2 2010 and website copyrights of 2008/2011, indicating limited current public disclosure.
Armco Metals firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Armco Metals
- Legal name
- China Armco Metals, Inc.
- Website
- https://armcometals.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- China Armco Metals (OTCPINK: AMCO) is a Hong Kong-headquartered metal ore and scrap distributor that sources from over 100 companies across 10 countries and sells into China's steel industry through a nationwide sales network across three divisions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Armco Metals industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Metal Ore and Steel Scrap Distribution
- NAICS
- Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing (3314)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Metals & Minerals (No Petroleum) (5050)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ferrous Metals Trading & Distribution (Iron Ore, Pig Iron, DRI/HBI, Ferroalloys) (IMAKAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Scrap Metal Export/Import & Trading (International Sourcing, Compliance, Documentation) (IMAKAMAL), Industrial & Manufacturing Scrap Recycling (Factory Scrap, Turnings, Offcuts) (IMAKAMAE)
Keywords
Where Armco Metals is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Mateo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Armco Metals business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel
Revenue model
- Metal Ore Distribution: Distribution of metal ore, steel scrap, and non-ferrous metals within China. Products include iron ore, nickel ore, chrome ore, copper ore, and zinc ore.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Armco Metals product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Armco Metals distributes metal ores, steel scrap, and non-ferrous metals to metal manufacturing enterprises across China. Through its Hong Kong subsidiary Armco & Metawise (H.K.) Ltd., it sources iron ore, nickel ore, chrome ore, copper ore, zinc ore, and recycled steel scrap from suppliers in more than 10 countries and supplies them to Chinese steelmakers and refineries through an established B2B sales network.
Product overview
Armco Metals operates as a metal ore and recycling distribution company with three main divisions: Armco Metal (primary distribution), Henan Metawise (technology integration), and Armet Renewable (metal scrap recycling). The company offers a portfolio of mineral ore products including Iron Ore, Nickel Ore, Chrome Ore, Copper Ore, and Zinc Ore, as well as Steel Scrap and non-ferrous metals. The products are distributed through a sales network covering all major provinces of China, with business relationships spanning over 100 companies in 10 countries including the United States, Japan, India, South Korea, Brazil, Australia, and South Africa. The company was founded through its subsidiary Armco & Metawise (H.K.) Ltd. in July 2001.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Armco Metal: One of the main divisions of Armco Metals, alongside Henan Metawise and Armet Renewable.
- Henan Metawise
- Armet Renewable
Products and services
- Iron Ore Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted; rich in iron oxides and typically used to make steel (98% of mined iron ore goes to steelmaking). Distributed to Chinese metal manufacturing enterprises.
- Nickel Ore Lateritic nickel ore containing approximately 0.3% nickel, formed by tropical weathering of ultramafic rocks, supplied in limonite and silicate types for metal manufacturing customers in China.
- Chrome Ore Chromite (iron magnesium chromium oxide), the principal ore of chromium, sourced primarily from India, Iran, Pakistan, Oman, Zimbabwe, Turkey, and Southern Africa for distribution to Chinese manufacturers.
- Copper Ore High grade copper sulfide ores containing about 0.25% to 5% copper metal, concentrated using froth flotation. Available grades include CU 15-30% sourced from Nigeria and Philippines and discharged at Shanghai/Lianyungang.
- Zinc Ore Metal ore product distributed through Armco's sales network covering all major provinces of China, serving metal refinery industry customers.
- Steel Scrap Recycled steel material distributed within China, sourced through Armco's network of over 100 companies in 10 countries as an environmentally friendly raw material input for steelmaking.
Companies that use Armco Metals
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Armco Metals technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Armco Metals partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Metal Manufacturing Enterprises (China)coreLong-term collaboration with metal manufacturing enterprises in China. Established stable partnerships through long-term collaboration.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights1 record
Armco Metals competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Dragon Metals: Smaller specialty trader in non-ferrous metals and ore concentrates serving Asian smelters; comparable in scale and commodity mix as an emerging peer in the China-focused metals trade.
- Metalico: US-based scrap metal processor and trader; comparable as a smaller specialty player in cross-border ferrous and non-ferrous scrap trade serving similar downstream markets.
Direct peers
- Chiho Environmental Group: Hong Kong-listed recycler and trader of mixed metal scrap and non-ferrous metals into China — directly comparable to Armco Metals in cross-border scrap sourcing and Hong Kong-based operations targeting Chinese end-markets.
- Sims Metal Management: Global ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal recycler and trader with established Asian sales channels; directly comparable to Armet Renewable's recycling arm and Armco's steel scrap distribution business.
- Schnitzer Steel Industries: US-based scrap metal recycler and exporter with strong Pacific Rim trade flows; competes for the same international scrap supply feeding into Chinese steel mills.
- Stemcor: International steel and raw materials trader historically focused on serving Chinese mills with iron ore and ferrous products — closely comparable in commodity mix and customer profile to Armco.
Broad incumbents
- Glencore: Global diversified metals and minerals trader with significant Chinese customer exposure; far larger and broader than Armco, but competes for the same commodity flows and downstream customers.
- EMR Group: European-headquartered global scrap metal recycler with significant export operations to Asia; comparable in commodity type though it primarily serves different geographies.
- Trafigura: Global commodity trading house with substantial metals and minerals trading operations serving Chinese smelters and steel mills; comparable in trading-model economics though vastly larger in scale.
Regional players
- Recyclex: European scrap metal recycler focused on ferrous and non-ferrous recovery; comparable in business model though primarily serves European rather than Asian end-markets.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Armco Metals social profiles
Digital presenceArmco Metals financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Armco Metals leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Armco Metals subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Armco Metals funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Armco Metals M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Armco Metals
What does Armco Metals do?
Armco Metals distributes metal ores, steel scrap, and non-ferrous metals to metal manufacturing enterprises across China. Through its Hong Kong subsidiary Armco & Metawise (H.K.) Ltd., it sources iron ore, nickel ore, chrome ore, copper ore, zinc ore, and recycled steel scrap from suppliers in more than 10 countries and supplies them to Chinese steelmakers and refineries through an established B2B sales network.
Is Armco Metals a public or private company?
Armco Metals is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Armco Metals founded?
Armco Metals was founded in 2001. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Armco Metals based?
Armco Metals is headquartered in San Mateo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Armco Metals make money?
One revenue line is on record: metal Ore Distribution.
Who are Armco Metals's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Dragon Metals and Metalico. Direct peers are Chiho Environmental Group, Sims Metal Management, Schnitzer Steel Industries and Stemcor. Broad incumbents are Glencore, EMR Group and Trafigura. Recyclex is listed as a regional player.
Does Armco Metals have an API?
No public API is recorded for Armco Metals.
What industry is Armco Metals in?
Armco Metals's product category is Metal Ore and Steel Scrap Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKAJAA, Ferrous Metals Trading & Distribution (Iron Ore, Pig Iron, DRI/HBI, Ferroalloys), with a secondary code of IMAKAMAL, Scrap Metal Export/Import & Trading (International Sourcing, Compliance, Documentation). Its NAICS code is 3314 and its SIC code is 5050.