Sydney scrap prices convert world benchmarks to Australian dollars, with a local electric arc furnace and container exports both bidding. Cash for scrap is illegal in New South Wales: licensed yards record photo ID and pay by transfer or cheque. The yards run the western suburbs.
Scrap metal prices per kg in Sydney
| Scrap type | Price (AUD) | Change | Global reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-ferrous (per kg) | |||
| Copper Scrap | A$16.89 / kg | ▲ +1.22% | $5.81 / lb |
| Aluminum Scrap | A$2.53 / kg | ▲ +1.16% | $0.87 / lb |
| Brass Scrap | A$10.29 / kg | ▲ +1.14% | $3.54 / lb |
| Stainless Steel Scrap | A$1.66 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.57 / lb |
| Lead Scrap | A$1.71 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.59 / lb |
| Zinc Scrap | A$2.62 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.90 / lb |
| Battery Scrap | A$0.67 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.23 / lb |
| Radiator Scrap | A$9.71 / kg | ▲ +1.21% | $3.34 / lb |
| Wire Scrap | A$8.17 / kg | ▲ +1.44% | $2.81 / lb |
| Cable Scrap | A$5.43 / kg | ▲ +1.08% | $1.87 / lb |
| Electronic Scrap | A$2.33 / kg | ▲ +1.27% | $0.80 / lb |
| Ferrous and bulk (per tonne) | |||
| Steel Scrap | A$436 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $300 / ton |
| Iron Scrap | A$384 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $264 / ton |
| Car Scrap | A$523 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $360 / ton |
| Cast Iron | A$419 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $288 / ton |
Indicative dealer prices for clean, sorted scrap in Australia, shown here for Sydney. Individual yards quote around this level by grade, volume and condition; the derivation from exchange benchmarks and the exchange rate (1 USD = 1.39 AUD) is described in the methodology section below.
Sydney scrap price chart (AUD)
Daily open, high, low and close for the most traded scrap metals in AUD, the same series Sydney yards price against. Scroll to zoom and drag to move along the timeline.
Price history could not be loaded.
- Current Price
- Daily Change
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The scrap market in Sydney
Sydney's trade concentrates in the west: Smithfield, Wetherill Park and the industrial suburbs hold the yards, an electric arc furnace at Rooty Hill melts local ferrous into rebar and rod, and container exporters take non-ferrous through Port Botany.
That dual demand keeps quotes near converted world parity, and the Australian dollar does the rest: metals are priced in US dollars, so a soft Aussie lifts every board in the city. Construction and demolition dominate supply, with renovation copper and aluminium glazing the steady earners.
- State
- New South Wales, Australia
- Quoted in
- AUD per kg (non-ferrous), per tonne (ferrous)
- Yards cluster in
- Smithfield, Wetherill Park, Silverwater, St Marys
- Demand from
- Rooty Hill electric arc furnace, Port Botany exports
Where the scrap yards are in Sydney
- Smithfield and Wetherill Park: the core western yard belt.
- Silverwater and Auburn: full-service yards closer in.
- St Marys and Penrith: the outer west, near the steel mill.
- Ingleburn and the south-west: mixed and auto scrap.
What pays well in Sydney
- Prepared steel and demolition scrap for the local mill.
- Copper and cable from the electrical trades.
- Aluminium extrusion and cast from glazing and workshops.
Selling scrap metal in Sydney: rules, ID and payment
The NSW Scrap Metal Industry Act bans cash and cheque-cashing for scrap: registered dealers verify photo ID and pay by electronic transfer or cheque, keeping records for inspection. Vehicles need proof of ownership, and unregistered buyers are the ones to avoid entirely.
Before any sale, check the live board above, sort by grade and get quotes from two or three buyers; the best scrap price guide covers the routine and the calculator turns a weight into a figure at today's price. To judge whether a local quote is competitive, our note on telling a well-paying yard from a headline rate sets out the benchmark test.
Sydney scrap price FAQ
What is the scrap copper price in Sydney today?
As of the latest update, the indicative price for clean number 1 copper is about A$16.89 per kg in AUD. Sydney yards typically quote within a few percent of that figure either side, depending on grade, volume and the buyer; the live board above shows all fifteen grades.
Can I get cash for scrap in Sydney?
No. New South Wales banned cash payment for scrap metal; registered dealers must pay by electronic transfer or cheque after sighting photo ID. A buyer offering cash is operating outside the register, and selling to them carries risk for you as well.
Where can I sell scrap metal in Sydney?
The western belt through Smithfield and Wetherill Park holds the most yards and the sharpest quotes, Silverwater suits inner-city trades, and the outer west around St Marys is handy to the mill for ferrous. Two phone quotes routinely differ by several percent.
Are Sydney prices different from the national board?
The board on this page is the Australia indicative level, and Sydney yards trade around it rather than exactly on it. Local competition, freight to the nearest consumer and the day's export demand set the spread, which is why two quotes in the same city can differ by several percent on the same morning.
Sources and methodology
The Sydney board uses the Australia indicative prices: global exchange benchmarks (COMEX copper, CME aluminum and steel, NYMEX platinum and palladium, IMF monthly lead, zinc and nickel) multiplied by typical yard recovery shares, a local market factor of 0.95 and the day's exchange rate. The full method, the recovery shares and the correction policy are on our editorial policy page; local notes on this page are reviewed against published dealer information and reader corrections sent to info@scrappricetoday.com.
Prices are indicative and for information only; they are not offers to buy or sell. Yard quotes in Sydney vary by grade, volume, condition and buyer.
Nearby and related
Scrap metal prices in Australia · All countries · Catalytic converter prices