Brisbane scrap prices follow world benchmarks in Australian dollars, cleared through container exports at the port and southern mills. Queensland has no cash ban, but yards still record ID and pay larger lots by transfer. Yards cluster around Rocklea and Archerfield in the south and Northgate in the north.
Scrap metal prices per kg in Brisbane
| 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 Brisbane. 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.
Brisbane scrap price chart (AUD)
Daily open, high, low and close for the most traded scrap metals in AUD, the same series Brisbane 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 Brisbane
Brisbane's trade is export-facing: without a local steel mill, ferrous consolidates at processors and ships out or rails south, while non-ferrous leaves in containers through the Port of Brisbane. Quotes therefore ride export bids and the Australian dollar more directly than in Sydney or Melbourne.
Supply is construction, demolition and the state's mining and machinery trade, which sends heavy equipment, wear parts and alloy scrap that smaller markets rarely see. Storm seasons add surges of roofing iron and fencing to the flow.
- State
- Queensland, Australia
- Quoted in
- AUD per kg (non-ferrous), per tonne (ferrous)
- Yards cluster in
- Rocklea, Archerfield, Northgate, Ipswich corridor
- Demand from
- Port of Brisbane exports, southern mills
Where the scrap yards are in Brisbane
- Rocklea and Archerfield: the southern industrial belt with the main yards.
- Northgate and Geebung: the northern cluster.
- Ipswich corridor: heavy and machinery scrap to the west.
- Logan and the south: mixed and auto scrap.
What pays well in Brisbane
- Machinery, wear parts and heavy steel from the mining trade.
- Copper and cable from the electrical trades.
- Aluminium and stainless from workshops and marine work.
Selling scrap metal in Brisbane: rules, ID and payment
Queensland regulates dealers through second-hand dealer licensing: ID is recorded and records kept, and while cash is not banned as it is in NSW and Victoria, most yards pay volume by transfer. Vehicles need proof of ownership; catalytic converters attract extra checks everywhere.
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.
Brisbane scrap price FAQ
What is the scrap copper price in Brisbane today?
As of the latest update, the indicative price for clean number 1 copper is about A$16.89 per kg in AUD. Brisbane 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.
Where can I sell scrap metal in Brisbane?
Rocklea and Archerfield south of the river hold the biggest choice, Northgate covers the north side, and the Ipswich corridor handles machinery-grade loads. Export-facing buyers move first when container bids change, so a second quote is always worth the call.
Is cash still legal for scrap in Queensland?
Yes, unlike NSW and Victoria, though dealers are licensed and must record ID, and many pay larger lots by transfer anyway. If you sell interstate, remember the cashless rules start at the border.
Are Brisbane prices different from the national board?
The board on this page is the Australia indicative level, and Brisbane 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 Brisbane 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 Brisbane vary by grade, volume, condition and buyer.
Nearby and related
Scrap metal prices in Australia · All countries · Catalytic converter prices