Scrap metal prices per kg in Taiwan
| Scrap type | Price (TWD) | Change | Global reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-ferrous (per kg) | |||
| Copper Scrap | NT$394 / kg | ▲ +2.30% | $5.78 / lb |
| Aluminum Scrap | NT$55 / kg | ▲ +1.25% | $0.81 / lb |
| Brass Scrap | NT$239 / kg | ▲ +1.45% | $3.50 / lb |
| Stainless Steel Scrap | NT$39 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.57 / lb |
| Lead Scrap | NT$40 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.59 / lb |
| Zinc Scrap | NT$61 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.90 / lb |
| Battery Scrap | NT$16 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.23 / lb |
| Radiator Scrap | NT$226 / kg | ▲ +2.15% | $3.32 / lb |
| Wire Scrap | NT$190 / kg | ▲ +2.20% | $2.79 / lb |
| Cable Scrap | NT$127 / kg | ▲ +2.20% | $1.86 / lb |
| Electronic Scrap | NT$55 / kg | ▲ +2.56% | $0.80 / lb |
| Ferrous and bulk (per tonne) | |||
| Steel Scrap | NT$10,224 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $300 / ton |
| Iron Scrap | NT$8,997 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $264 / ton |
| Car Scrap | NT$12,268 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $360 / ton |
| Cast Iron | NT$9,815 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $288 / ton |
Indicative dealer prices for clean, sorted scrap. Global reference is the US board in US dollars; the Taiwan figure applies the exchange rate (1 USD = 31.87 TWD) and a local market factor of 0.97.
Yards quote in New Taiwan dollars per kilogram. Prices here are derived from the exchange settlement, converted to New Taiwan dollars, and adjusted by a market factor of 0.97, our assessment of a market with strong domestic mill demand and a dense, competitive collection network. The factor is published on the editorial policy page and is open to challenge.
Taiwan scrap price chart (TWD)
Daily open, high, low and close for the most traded scrap metals in TWD per kg or per tonne. Scroll to zoom and drag to move along the timeline.
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Copper scrap prices by grade in Taiwan
Copper is not one price. Yards grade it by cleanliness, coating and gauge, and the spread from the top grade to the bottom runs 25 to 35 percent. These are the same grades used on export contracts, converted to TWD.
The scrap market in Taiwan
Taiwan's recycling trade is organised into three tiers, and local sellers name them: da pan, zhong pan and xiao pan, meaning large, medium and small yard. The tier is not a description of size for its own sake. It is the single clearest predictor of what you will be paid.
A large yard buys closer to the mill price because it sells to the mill. A small neighbourhood collection point buys further below it, because it will sell on to a larger yard and needs a margin to do so. Taking material to a large yard yourself gets you a better number than having anyone collect it.
The quantified version of that is worth memorising. Taiwanese guidance puts the discount for door collection at roughly 2 to 3 New Taiwan dollars a kilo below the market rate, because the buying price then has to absorb labour and transport.
- Currency
- New Taiwan dollar (TWD)
- Units
- Kilogram
- Market factor
- 0.97 (our assessment, published on the editorial policy page)
- Tier system
- da pan, zhong pan, xiao pan: large, medium and small yards
- Door collection
- Roughly 2 to 3 NT dollars a kilo below market rate
- Market size
- Taiwan resource recycling reported at over 80 billion NT dollars
The most valuable scrap by weight in Taiwan today: Copper at NT$394 per kg, Brass at NT$239 per kg, Radiator at NT$226 per kg, Wire at NT$190 per kg, Cable at NT$127 per kg.
How much is scrap metal worth in Taiwan?
Scrap metal in Taiwan is bought per kilogram and quoted in TWD. Typical ranges are Copper: NT$ 345 to NT$ 440 per kg; Brass: NT$ 210 to NT$ 270 per kg; Aluminium: NT$ 48 to NT$ 62 per kg; Zinc: NT$ 54 to NT$ 68 per kg; Lead: NT$ 35 to NT$ 45 per kg; Stainless steel: NT$ 34 to NT$ 44 per kg. Across common non-ferrous grades that puts most material between NT$ 34 and NT$ 440 per kg, with copper at the top of the range and stainless steel near the bottom.
These are ranges rather than quotes. The band reflects day-to-day movement in the metal market and the spread between one yard and another, which our own research has found can reach 40 percent or more for the same metal in the same city. The midpoint is derived from the international exchange settlement converted to TWD and adjusted by our published market factor of 0.97. Expect a local buyer to sit toward the lower end, because they carry collection, sorting, processing and their own margin. Always confirm the rate per kilo for your specific grade before anything is weighed.
- Copper: NT$ 345 to NT$ 440 per kg
- Brass: NT$ 210 to NT$ 270 per kg
- Aluminium: NT$ 48 to NT$ 62 per kg
- Zinc: NT$ 54 to NT$ 68 per kg
- Lead: NT$ 35 to NT$ 45 per kg
- Stainless steel: NT$ 34 to NT$ 44 per kg
Selling scrap metal in Taiwan: rules, ID and payment
Selling domestically is straightforward. What you need to know is vocabulary, because Taiwanese yards use terms that do not translate neatly. Fei tie is scrap iron. Bai tie, literally white iron, is the everyday word for stainless and is quoted separately from bu xiu gang, the formal term, often at different rates. Hong tong is red copper and za tong is mixed copper, and the gap between them is large.
Appliances are a separate channel. Waste washing machines, refrigerators, televisions and air conditioners are regulated electronic and electrical waste under the environmental authority, so a recycling yard will not simply weigh them as metal. Handle those through the proper route rather than assuming a yard will take them at scrap rate.
And know which service you are buying. If you engage a moving firm or a general waste clearance company rather than a scrap recycler, expect to pay roughly 4,500 to 7,000 New Taiwan dollars per truckload. That is a disposal service, not a sale.
Before you sell
- Work out which tier you are dealing with. Delivering to a large yard yourself beats having a small one collect.
- Expect roughly 2 to 3 NT dollars a kilo less if a truck comes to your door. That is the cost of the labour and the journey.
- Separate copper, aluminium, iron and stainless before you go, and strip coatings and impurities.
- Distinguish hong tong from za tong. Red copper and mixed copper are quoted separately and the difference is substantial.
- Keep appliances out of it. Regulated e-waste goes through its own channel.
- Compare two or three yards. Taiwanese consumer guidance says this plainly and it is the most repeated advice in the local market.
Scrap prices by city in Taiwan
City pages for Taiwan are being added; the country board above already reflects prices in its main hubs: Taiwan.
Scrap yards in Taiwan
Find a yard by region or city, or use your location to see the nearest. Every listing shows where its details came from and when they were checked.
Yard listings for Taiwan are being added from official dealer registers and trade directories. Nothing is published until it has been verified against a named source, which is why this section is not yet populated.
Taiwan scrap price FAQ
What are da pan, zhong pan and xiao pan?
The three tiers of Taiwanese recycling yard: large, medium and small. A large yard sells directly to mills and therefore buys closest to the mill price. A small neighbourhood point sells on to a larger yard and buys further below it.
How much less do I get if a truck collects from me?
Taiwanese guidance puts it at roughly 2 to 3 New Taiwan dollars a kilo below the market rate, because the buying price has to cover the labour and the journey. Delivering to a large yard yourself is the cheaper option if you can.
What is the difference between bai tie and bu xiu gang?
Both refer to stainless steel. Bai tie, literally white iron, is the everyday spoken term; bu xiu gang is the formal one. Yards quote them separately and rates differ, so it is worth asking which category your material is being put into.
Hong tong or za tong, and does it matter?
It matters a great deal. Hong tong is red copper, the clean high-grade material, and za tong is mixed copper. The two are quoted separately and the gap between them is one of the largest on a Taiwanese price list, which is why separating copper before you sell is worth the time.
Can I take an old refrigerator to a recycling yard?
Not as ordinary scrap. Waste refrigerators, washing machines, televisions and air conditioners are regulated electronic and electrical waste under the environmental authority and go through their own channel rather than being weighed as metal.
Why would I pay to have scrap taken away?
Because the two services are different. A scrap recycler buys metal from you. A moving firm or general waste clearance company disposes of material for you, at a reported 4,500 to 7,000 New Taiwan dollars per truckload. Establish which one you are calling before you agree anything.
How do I get the best price in Taiwan?
Sort by metal type, remove coatings and impurities, deliver to a large yard yourself rather than arranging collection, and compare two or three yards. Local guidance is consistent that sorting precision and transport method are the two things you control.
Do Taiwanese mills actually use this scrap?
Yes, heavily. Taiwanese steelmakers depend on recycled scrap steel as raw material, which is why domestic collection has a short route to a furnace and why rates track the international market closely.
How often do Taiwanese recycling prices change?
Continuously, with international metal prices. Yards state that quoted figures are reference values and that the actual transaction price is confirmed on site at the time of the sale.
How large is the Taiwanese recycling market?
Resource recycling in Taiwan has been reported at a scale exceeding 80 billion New Taiwan dollars, covering metals alongside paper, plastics and electronics.
Sources and methodology
Prices on this page start from the global reference board (US dollars per pound or per ton), are multiplied by a Taiwan market factor of 0.97 that reflects local demand, freight and trade rules, and are converted to TWD at 1 USD = 31.87 and to metric units (kilograms and tonnes). The board refreshes daily, with the time of the latest update shown at the top of the page.
Reference sources
- Taiwanese recycling price guides and yard cenniki published in 2026
- Taiwan environmental authority classification of regulated waste electrical and electronic equipment
Prices are indicative and for information only; they are not offers to buy or sell. Actual yard prices depend on grade, quantity, location and the buyer. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will check it against our sources.