Scrap metal prices per kg in Zambia
| Scrap type | Price (ZMW) | Change | Global reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-ferrous (per kg) | |||
| Copper Scrap | K 214.66 / kg | ▼ -2.11% | $5.57 / lb |
| Aluminum Scrap | K 29.67 / kg | ▼ -1.28% | $0.77 / lb |
| Brass Scrap | K 131.42 / kg | ▼ -1.73% | $3.41 / lb |
| Stainless Steel Scrap | K 21.97 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.57 / lb |
| Lead Scrap | K 22.74 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.59 / lb |
| Zinc Scrap | K 34.68 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.90 / lb |
| Battery Scrap | K 8.86 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.23 / lb |
| Radiator Scrap | K 123.32 / kg | ▼ -2.14% | $3.20 / lb |
| Wire Scrap | K 103.67 / kg | ▼ -2.18% | $2.69 / lb |
| Cable Scrap | K 68.98 / kg | ▼ -2.19% | $1.79 / lb |
| Electronic Scrap | K 29.67 / kg | ▼ -2.53% | $0.77 / lb |
| Ferrous and bulk (per tonne) | |||
| Steel Scrap | K 5,781 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $300 / ton |
| Iron Scrap | K 5,087 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $264 / ton |
| Car Scrap | K 6,937 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $360 / ton |
| Cast Iron | K 5,550 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $288 / ton |
Indicative dealer prices for clean, sorted scrap. Global reference is the US board in US dollars; the Zambia figure applies the exchange rate (1 USD = 20.09 ZMW) and a local market factor of 0.87.
Yards quote in Zambian kwacha per kilogram. Prices here are derived from the exchange settlement, converted to kwacha, and adjusted by a market factor of 0.87, our assessment of a market with licensed dealing, substantial domestic copper processing and an export regime aimed at retaining value in the country. The factor is published on the editorial policy page and is open to challenge.
Zambia scrap price chart (ZMW)
Daily open, high, low and close for the most traded scrap metals in ZMW 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 Zambia
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 ZMW.
The scrap market in Zambia
Zambia is Africa's second largest copper producer, and it is one of the few countries on this site with a statute written specifically for scrap rather than a clause inside a waste law. The Scrap Metal Dealers Act, Chapter 409 of the Laws of Zambia, prohibits dealing in scrap without a licence and sets out what a licensed dealer must do.
The obligations are familiar from the British model: a licence from a licensing authority with a fee on grant, and a register kept at every scrap metal store. One requirement is less familiar. A dealer must display at the store a notice specifying the penalties for giving false information to scrap metal dealers.
That notice is aimed at the person selling, not the person buying. Most scrap regulation on this site warns the dealer about what they may accept. Zambia's warns the seller about what they say, which tells you where the law thinks the risk sits in a country whose principal export is copper.
The Act also deals with what happens when a licence is withdrawn: a dealer whose licence has been cancelled may sell the scrap in their possession for one month from the date of cancellation, and no longer.
- Currency
- Zambian kwacha (ZMW)
- Units
- Kilogram
- Market factor
- 0.87 (our assessment, published on the editorial policy page)
- Key statute
- Scrap Metal Dealers Act, Chapter 409 of the Laws of Zambia
- Dealer duties
- Licence, register at every store, and a displayed notice on penalties for false information
- Mineral exports
- Permit required from the Minerals Regulation Commission under the MRC Act 2024
- Concentrate duty
- 10 percent baseline, with a zero-rated waiver under SI 43 of 2026 to 30 September 2026
The most valuable scrap by weight in Zambia today: Copper at K 214.66 per kg, Brass at K 131.42 per kg, Radiator at K 123.32 per kg, Wire at K 103.67 per kg, Cable at K 68.98 per kg.
How much is scrap metal worth in Zambia?
Scrap metal in Zambia is bought per kilogram and quoted in ZMW. Typical ranges are Copper: K 190 to K 240 per kg; Brass: K 115 to K 145 per kg; Aluminium: K 26 to K 33 per kg; Zinc: K 31 to K 39 per kg; Lead: K 20 to K 25 per kg; Stainless steel: K 19 to K 25 per kg. Across common non-ferrous grades that puts most material between K 19 and K 240 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 ZMW and adjusted by our published market factor of 0.87. 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: K 190 to K 240 per kg
- Brass: K 115 to K 145 per kg
- Aluminium: K 26 to K 33 per kg
- Zinc: K 31 to K 39 per kg
- Lead: K 20 to K 25 per kg
- Stainless steel: K 19 to K 25 per kg
Selling scrap metal in Zambia: rules, ID and payment
Dealing in scrap metal without a licence is an offence under the Act, as is applying for or obtaining a licence while disqualified from holding one. The register at each store is not optional, and the Minister may make further rules by statutory instrument.
Above the scrap layer sits a much larger copper policy, and it is worth understanding because it sets the direction of the whole market. Under the Minerals Regulation Commission Act of 2024, which replaced the 2015 Mines and Minerals Development Act, exporting any mineral substance, whether raw ore, concentrate or refined cathode, requires an explicit mineral export permit from the Minerals Regulation Commission.
The export duty on copper concentrates has moved repeatedly. A 15 percent duty on unprocessed base metals was introduced in 2019, suspended in 2020 by Statutory Instrument 40 of 2020, reinstated in early 2025 by Statutory Instrument 85 of 2024, and suspended again in 2025 after representations from the mining industry.
The current position is a baseline duty with a temporary, volume-limited waiver. Statutory Instrument 43 of 2026 reduced the duty to zero for specific copper ore and concentrate tariff headings between 1 June and 30 September 2026, covering 271,742 tonnes, with named quotas including 15,000 tonnes for Lubambe Copper Mine and 12,541 tonnes for Konkola Copper Mines. The reason given was that major smelters were undergoing extended maintenance and stockpiles had accumulated.
Before you sell
- Check that your buyer holds a licence under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act. Dealing without one is an offence, not a formality.
- Expect your details to go into a register. Every licensed store must keep one.
- Read the notice on the wall. It sets out the penalties for giving a dealer false information about what you are selling and where it came from.
- For copper specifically, be able to account for origin. This is a copper-producing country and provenance questions follow from that.
- If you are exporting any mineral substance, you need a mineral export permit from the Minerals Regulation Commission, including for refined cathode.
- Watch the statutory instruments. The concentrate duty has been introduced, suspended, reinstated and suspended again within six years.
Scrap prices by city in Zambia
City pages for Zambia are being added; the country board above already reflects prices in its main hubs: Zambia.
Scrap yards in Zambia
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 Zambia 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.
Zambia scrap price FAQ
Do scrap dealers need a licence in Zambia?
Yes. The Scrap Metal Dealers Act, Chapter 409 of the Laws of Zambia, makes it an offence to carry on business as a scrap metal dealer without a licence or otherwise than in accordance with its conditions.
What must a licensed dealer do?
Keep a register at every scrap metal store, and display at the store a notice specifying the penalties for giving false information to scrap metal dealers. The licence itself is granted by a licensing authority on payment of a fee.
Why does the notice warn the seller?
Because that is where the Act places the risk. Most scrap regulation covered on this site constrains what a dealer may buy. Zambia also constrains what a seller may claim, which is a reasonable emphasis in a country whose principal export is copper.
What happens if a dealer loses their licence?
They may sell the scrap already in their possession for one month from the date of cancellation, and not beyond that.
Do I need a permit to export copper?
Yes. Under the Minerals Regulation Commission Act of 2024, exporting any mineral substance requires an explicit mineral export permit from the Minerals Regulation Commission, whether the material is raw ore, concentrate or refined cathode.
What is the export duty on copper concentrates?
A 10 percent baseline duty applies. Statutory Instrument 43 of 2026 reduced it to zero for specific tariff headings between 1 June and 30 September 2026, covering 271,742 tonnes with named company quotas.
Why was the duty waived?
Because major smelters were undergoing extended maintenance and unprocessed material had accumulated. The waiver was described as an operational relief valve rather than a change of policy.
Has the duty been stable?
No. A 15 percent duty on unprocessed base metals was introduced in 2019, suspended in 2020, reinstated in early 2025 and suspended again later that year after industry representations. Check the instrument in force.
How does Zambian scrap compare with cathode?
A trade buying guide citing a Lusaka scrap dealer put scrap copper at roughly 4.75 to 5.10 dollars a pound while refined cathode traded around 13,300 dollars a tonne. Scrap and cathode are not interchangeable references and should not be substituted for each other.
Is Zambia a big copper producer?
It is Africa's second largest. That shapes the whole market: the policy framework is built around processing copper domestically rather than exporting it raw, and provenance questions at a scrap counter follow from the same fact.
Sources and methodology
Prices on this page start from the global reference board (US dollars per pound or per ton), are multiplied by a Zambia market factor of 0.87 that reflects local demand, freight and trade rules, and are converted to ZMW at 1 USD = 20.09 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
- Scrap Metal Dealers Act, Chapter 409 of the Laws of Zambia
- Minerals Regulation Commission Act 2024 and associated export permit requirements
- Statutory Instrument 43 of 2026 on the suspension of the copper concentrate export duty
- Reporting on the history of the unprocessed base metals export duty and its suspensions
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.
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