Scrap metal prices per kg in South Korea
| Scrap type | Price (KRW) | Change | Global reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-ferrous (per kg) | |||
| Copper Scrap | ₩15,959 / kg | ▼ -2.11% | $5.57 / lb |
| Aluminum Scrap | ₩2,206 / kg | ▼ -1.28% | $0.77 / lb |
| Brass Scrap | ₩9,770 / kg | ▼ -1.73% | $3.41 / lb |
| Stainless Steel Scrap | ₩1,633 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.57 / lb |
| Lead Scrap | ₩1,690 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.59 / lb |
| Zinc Scrap | ₩2,579 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.90 / lb |
| Battery Scrap | ₩659 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.23 / lb |
| Radiator Scrap | ₩9,169 / kg | ▼ -2.14% | $3.20 / lb |
| Wire Scrap | ₩7,707 / kg | ▼ -2.18% | $2.69 / lb |
| Cable Scrap | ₩5,129 / kg | ▼ -2.19% | $1.79 / lb |
| Electronic Scrap | ₩2,206 / kg | ▼ -2.53% | $0.77 / lb |
| Ferrous and bulk (per tonne) | |||
| Steel Scrap | ₩429,775 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $300 / ton |
| Iron Scrap | ₩378,202 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $264 / ton |
| Car Scrap | ₩515,730 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $360 / ton |
| Cast Iron | ₩412,584 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $288 / ton |
Indicative dealer prices for clean, sorted scrap. Global reference is the US board in US dollars; the South Korea figure applies the exchange rate (1 USD = 1,326.14 KRW) and a local market factor of 0.98.
Korean dealers quote non-ferrous scrap in won per kilogram and ferrous scrap in won per tonne, with mill grades such as heavy scrap A and B.
South Korea scrap price chart (KRW)
Daily open, high, low and close for the most traded scrap metals in KRW per kg or per tonne. Scroll to zoom and drag to move along the timeline.
Price history could not be loaded.
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Copper scrap prices by grade in South Korea
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 KRW.
The scrap market in South Korea
South Korea imports ferrous scrap to feed a large electric steel industry, buying from Japan, the United States and Russia, so domestic ferrous prices move with import bids at Incheon, Busan and Pohang. Non-ferrous scrap follows LME quotes in won and supplies domestic copper and aluminium producers.
Mill purchase prices published by the major steelmakers are the reference for yards across the country; smaller dealers price a margin below them.
- Currency
- South Korean won (KRW)
- Price units
- Per kg for non-ferrous, per tonne for ferrous
- Benchmarks
- Mill purchase prices, LME in won
- Main hubs
- Incheon, Busan, Pohang, Seoul
- Trade position
- Net importer of ferrous scrap
The most valuable scrap by weight in South Korea today: Copper at ₩15,959 per kg, Brass at ₩9,770 per kg, Radiator at ₩9,169 per kg, Wire at ₩7,707 per kg, Cable at ₩5,129 per kg.
Scrap metal rates in South Korea, by grade
Rates in South Korea are quoted per kilogram in KRW. Typical ranges are Copper: ₩ 14,045 to ₩ 17,875 per kg; Brass: ₩ 8,600 to ₩ 10,940 per kg; Aluminium: ₩ 1,940 to ₩ 2,470 per kg; Zinc: ₩ 2,270 to ₩ 2,890 per kg; Lead: ₩ 1,485 to ₩ 1,895 per kg; Stainless steel: ₩ 1,435 to ₩ 1,830 per kg. Across common non-ferrous grades that puts most material between ₩ 1,435 and ₩ 17,875 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 KRW and adjusted by our published market factor of 0.98. 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: ₩ 14,045 to ₩ 17,875 per kg
- Brass: ₩ 8,600 to ₩ 10,940 per kg
- Aluminium: ₩ 1,940 to ₩ 2,470 per kg
- Zinc: ₩ 2,270 to ₩ 2,890 per kg
- Lead: ₩ 1,485 to ₩ 1,895 per kg
- Stainless steel: ₩ 1,435 to ₩ 1,830 per kg
A change is in consultation that would reclassify scrap
On 16 July 2026, South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment issued an advance administrative notice of a proposed partial amendment to the public notice on waste items subject to the Act on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. Public comments were invited through 5 August 2026.
The proposed amendment would add ferrous scrap and non-ferrous metals to the list of import and export controlled wastes. It would also exempt certain materials from the import declaration requirement.
Treat that carefully: at the time of writing this is a proposal at advance notice stage, not a rule in force. But it is the single most consequential thing on the horizon for anyone shipping scrap to or from Korea, because moving a material onto a transboundary controlled list changes the paperwork for every shipment rather than adjusting a rate.
What to do while it is unresolved
Ask your Korean counterparty whether they have assessed the draft and what they expect it to require. A serious importer will have looked at it; the consultation closed in August.
If you are negotiating anything that ships after the amendment could take effect, agree now who carries the cost and delay if new declaration requirements apply mid-contract. That is a cheap conversation before signature and an expensive one after.
Confirm the current position before you commit. This is exactly the kind of measure that moves between draft and force without much international coverage.
Why Korean mills want more scrap anyway
The regulatory direction sits against a commercial one pointing the other way. Korean steelmakers have been working to secure metal scrap as they shift toward less carbon-intensive production, because an electric arc furnace runs on recycled material and a blast furnace does not.
Hyundai Steel has been widening its domestic scrap strategy as part of a long-term programme to advance low-carbon steel output in the country, which is the same pattern visible in Sweden and, for different reasons, in China: mills that need scrap building the supply relationships to get it.
For a seller the practical read is that Korean demand for clean, low-residual ferrous is structurally supported, and that the constraint on selling into Korea is more likely to be paperwork than appetite.
Selling scrap metal in South Korea: rules, ID and payment
Dealers are registered under the recycling laws and keep purchase records; larger sellers issue tax invoices. Bring ID and business registration for commercial lots.
Before you sell
- Follow the published mill purchase prices for ferrous grades.
- Sort heavy scrap from light and turnings.
- Incheon and Busan dealers track import bids most closely.
Scrap prices by city in South Korea
City pages for South Korea are being added; the country board above already reflects prices in its main hubs: Incheon, Busan, Pohang, Seoul.
Scrap yards in South Korea
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 South Korea 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.
South Korea scrap price FAQ
What is the scrap copper price per kg in South Korea today?
As of October 22, 2026, the indicative scrap copper price in South Korea is ₩15,959 per kg ($5.57 per lb on the global board). Bare bright and clean number 1 copper earn the top of the range; insulated wire, tubing with solder and mixed copper pay less.
What are scrap metal prices in South Korea today?
Today's indicative non-ferrous prices in South Korea are Copper ₩15,959 per kg, Brass ₩9,770 per kg, Radiator ₩9,169 per kg, Wire ₩7,707 per kg, with steel scrap at ₩429,775 per tonne. The full board above lists all 15 scrap types with the change against the previous close.
How are scrap prices quoted in South Korea?
Non-ferrous scrap is quoted in KRW per kg and ferrous scrap per tonne. Korean dealers quote non-ferrous scrap in won per kilogram and ferrous scrap in won per tonne, with mill grades such as heavy scrap A and B.
Do I need ID to sell scrap metal in South Korea?
Dealers are registered under the recycling laws and keep purchase records; larger sellers issue tax invoices. Bring ID and business registration for commercial lots.
Which scrap metals pay the most in South Korea?
By weight, copper, then brass, then radiator, then wire. Ferrous scrap such as steel and iron pays far less per kg but moves in much larger volumes, which is why it is quoted per tonne.
Why are scrap prices in South Korea different from US prices?
Metals are priced in US dollars on the world market, but local prices reflect the KRW exchange rate, freight to the nearest mills and smelters, import and export rules and how many buyers compete for material. Korean ferrous prices follow import bids and can run above the US reference when mills are short of material.
Sources and methodology
Prices on this page start from the global reference board (US dollars per pound or per ton), are multiplied by a South Korea market factor of 0.98 that reflects local demand, freight and trade rules, and are converted to KRW at 1 USD = 1,326.14 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
- Korea Iron and Steel Association
- LME settlement prices
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.
Scrap prices in other countries
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