Scrap metal prices per kg in France
| Scrap type | Price (EUR) | Change | Global reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-ferrous (per kg) | |||
| Copper Scrap | €10.91 / kg | ▼ -2.28% | $5.56 / lb |
| Aluminum Scrap | €1.51 / kg | ▼ -1.28% | $0.77 / lb |
| Brass Scrap | €6.69 / kg | ▼ -1.73% | $3.41 / lb |
| Stainless Steel Scrap | €1.12 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.57 / lb |
| Lead Scrap | €1.16 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.59 / lb |
| Zinc Scrap | €1.77 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.90 / lb |
| Battery Scrap | €0.45 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.23 / lb |
| Radiator Scrap | €6.26 / kg | ▼ -2.45% | $3.19 / lb |
| Wire Scrap | €5.26 / kg | ▼ -2.55% | $2.68 / lb |
| Cable Scrap | €3.51 / kg | ▼ -2.19% | $1.79 / lb |
| Electronic Scrap | €1.51 / kg | ▼ -2.53% | $0.77 / lb |
| Ferrous and bulk (per tonne) | |||
| Steel Scrap | €294 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $300 / ton |
| Iron Scrap | €259 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $264 / ton |
| Car Scrap | €353 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $360 / ton |
| Cast Iron | €283 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $288 / ton |
Indicative dealer prices for clean, sorted scrap. Global reference is the US board in US dollars; the France figure applies the exchange rate (1 USD = 0.89 EUR) and a local market factor of 1.00.
French dealers quote non-ferrous scrap in euros per kilogram and ferrous scrap per tonne, often with published grade lists for copper (cuivre), brass (laiton), aluminium and lead (plomb). Prices for professional sellers are quoted before VAT.
France scrap price chart (EUR)
Daily open, high, low and close for the most traded scrap metals in EUR 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 France
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 EUR.
The scrap market in France
France has a large collection network but limited domestic melting capacity outside the Dunkirk and Fos steelworks and a handful of foundries, so a large share of French scrap is exported to Spain, Italy, Germany and Turkey. Non-ferrous prices follow the LME in euros; ferrous prices track Mediterranean export demand.
The Paris region, Lyon and the northern industrial belt have the densest networks of dealers and the most competitive prices; rural sellers often sell to itinerant collectors at a discount.
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Price units
- Per kg for non-ferrous, per tonne for ferrous
- Benchmarks
- LME prices in euros, Mediterranean ferrous export bids
- Main hubs
- Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Fos, Dunkirk, Lille
- Trade position
- Net exporter of ferrous scrap
The most valuable scrap by weight in France today: Copper at €10.91 per kg, Brass at €6.69 per kg, Radiator at €6.26 per kg, Wire at €5.26 per kg, Cable at €3.51 per kg.
What you can expect to be paid in France
Scrap is weighed and paid by the kilogram in France, in EUR. Typical ranges are Copper: € 10 to € 12 per kg; Brass: € 5.9 to € 7.5 per kg; Aluminium: € 1.3 to € 1.7 per kg; Zinc: € 1.6 to € 2.0 per kg; Lead: € 1.0 to € 1.3 per kg; Stainless steel: € 1.0 to € 1.3 per kg. Across common non-ferrous grades that puts most material between € 1.0 and € 12 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 EUR and adjusted by our published market factor of 1.00. 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: € 10 to € 12 per kg
- Brass: € 5.9 to € 7.5 per kg
- Aluminium: € 1.3 to € 1.7 per kg
- Zinc: € 1.6 to € 2.0 per kg
- Lead: € 1.0 to € 1.3 per kg
- Stainless steel: € 1.0 to € 1.3 per kg
The newest target is the EV charging point
Since January 2026, more than 400 complaints have been filed in France by charging point operators for copper cable theft, according to the association Charge France. Electrification created a new network of copper-rich, unattended, publicly accessible installations, and organised theft found it quickly.
The driver named in French coverage is the price: copper at around 9,000 euros a tonne. In June 2026, thieves were sentenced to prison terms for stealing charging point cables.
It is not confined to charging points. On 10 August 2026, RER A services were heavily disrupted between Marne-la-Vallee and Noisy-le-Grand after electrical cables were stolen. At Coudray and Vieil-Evreux in the Eure, 35 households were left without internet or telephone from June 2026 after DSL and fibre optic cables were taken and damaged.
The scale of the organised end
French investigations have reached figures that make the nature of the trade clear. Six suspects were detained in the Paris region over multiple thefts committed as an organised gang since June 2024, with damage put at around 2 million euros to SNCF alone.
In January 2026, the dismantling of a copper theft network led to three people being charged and more than 4 million euros seized, alongside luxury cars, jewellery and a chateau at Gondreville in the Oise.
Coordination sits with the OCLDI, the central office for combating itinerant crime, which has been the national operational contact point for metal theft since June 2011.
Why this reaches the yard
Because French enforcement targets the buying side directly. Security forces run coordinated national and local operations to check regulated professions, metal sale points and recycling centres, specifically to verify traceability and identify suspicious transactions.
That includes targeted checks on the registres des ferrailleurs, the scrap dealers' registers, carried out in liaison with the departmental anti-fraud committees, alongside checks on goods around recycling sites to verify their origin.
Investigators are also equipped for it. Documentation circulated to them includes reflex sheets on catalytic converter theft, an SNCF guide to its metals, and an Orange guide to the equipment used on its network. An officer looking at your yard may know exactly what a piece of SNCF or Orange hardware looks like.
If you run or sell to a French yard, keep the register properly. It is the document the state actually comes to look at.
Selling scrap metal in France: rules, ID and payment
France banned cash payment for scrap metal entirely: every purchase must be paid by cheque, bank transfer or card, whatever the amount, and dealers must record the seller's identity. Selling scrap for cash is an offence for both parties.
Before you sell
- Bring photo ID; payment is always cashless.
- Ask for the grade list (barème) before you unload.
- Sell copper and brass separately; mixed yellow and red metal is graded down.
Scrap prices by city in France
City pages for France are being added; the country board above already reflects prices in its main hubs: Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Fos, Dunkirk, Lille.
Scrap yards in France
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 France 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.
France scrap price FAQ
What is the scrap copper price per kg in France today?
As of October 22, 2026, the indicative scrap copper price in France is €10.91 per kg ($5.56 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 France today?
Today's indicative non-ferrous prices in France are Copper €10.91 per kg, Brass €6.69 per kg, Radiator €6.26 per kg, Wire €5.26 per kg, with steel scrap at €294 per tonne. The full board above lists all 15 scrap types with the change against the previous close.
How are scrap prices quoted in France?
Non-ferrous scrap is quoted in EUR per kg and ferrous scrap per tonne. French dealers quote non-ferrous scrap in euros per kilogram and ferrous scrap per tonne, often with published grade lists for copper (cuivre), brass (laiton), aluminium and lead (plomb). Prices for professional sellers are quoted before VAT.
Do I need ID to sell scrap metal in France?
France banned cash payment for scrap metal entirely: every purchase must be paid by cheque, bank transfer or card, whatever the amount, and dealers must record the seller's identity. Selling scrap for cash is an offence for both parties.
Which scrap metals pay the most in France?
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 France different from US prices?
Metals are priced in US dollars on the world market, but local prices reflect the EUR exchange rate, freight to the nearest mills and smelters, import and export rules and how many buyers compete for material. French prices match the European LME-based level and depend on export demand for ferrous grades.
Sources and methodology
Prices on this page start from the global reference board (US dollars per pound or per ton), are multiplied by a France market factor of 1.00 that reflects local demand, freight and trade rules, and are converted to EUR at 1 USD = 0.89 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
- FEDEREC (French recycling federation)
- 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
Europe
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