Scrap metal prices per kg in Germany
| Scrap type | Price (EUR) | Change | Global reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-ferrous (per kg) | |||
| Copper Scrap | €11.13 / kg | ▼ -2.28% | $5.56 / lb |
| Aluminum Scrap | €1.54 / kg | ▼ -1.28% | $0.77 / lb |
| Brass Scrap | €6.83 / kg | ▼ -1.73% | $3.41 / lb |
| Stainless Steel Scrap | €1.14 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.57 / lb |
| Lead Scrap | €1.18 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.59 / lb |
| Zinc Scrap | €1.80 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.90 / lb |
| Battery Scrap | €0.46 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.23 / lb |
| Radiator Scrap | €6.39 / kg | ▼ -2.45% | $3.19 / lb |
| Wire Scrap | €5.37 / kg | ▼ -2.55% | $2.68 / lb |
| Cable Scrap | €3.58 / kg | ▼ -2.19% | $1.79 / lb |
| Electronic Scrap | €1.54 / kg | ▼ -2.53% | $0.77 / lb |
| Ferrous and bulk (per tonne) | |||
| Steel Scrap | €300 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $300 / ton |
| Iron Scrap | €264 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $264 / ton |
| Car Scrap | €360 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $360 / ton |
| Cast Iron | €288 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $288 / ton |
Indicative dealer prices for clean, sorted scrap. Global reference is the US board in US dollars; the Germany figure applies the exchange rate (1 USD = 0.89 EUR) and a local market factor of 1.02.
Dealers quote non-ferrous scrap in euros per kilogram, often as a percentage of the LME price for copper, and ferrous scrap in euros per tonne using the German grading system (for example Sorte 1 to 8 for steel scrap). Prices are usually quoted net of VAT for business sellers.
Germany 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 Germany
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 Germany
Germany is Europe's largest producer and consumer of scrap, with electric arc furnaces, foundries and secondary aluminium and copper smelters spread across the Ruhr, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria. Domestic demand is strong enough that German prices often lead the European market, and the country trades heavily with its neighbours through the Rhine and the port of Hamburg.
German scrap grading is precise and prices are published widely through trade associations, so quotes between regions are tighter than in most countries. Duisburg and the wider Ruhr are the ferrous hub; Hamburg and the Rhine ports handle exports and imports.
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Price units
- Per kg for non-ferrous, per tonne for ferrous
- Benchmarks
- LME prices in euros, BDSV steel scrap index
- Main hubs
- Duisburg and the Ruhr, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Munich, Berlin
- Trade position
- Net exporter within Europe
The most valuable scrap by weight in Germany today: Copper at €11.13 per kg, Brass at €6.83 per kg, Radiator at €6.39 per kg, Wire at €5.37 per kg, Cable at €3.58 per kg.
What you can expect to be paid in Germany
Scrap is weighed and paid by the kilogram in Germany, in EUR. Typical ranges are Copper: € 10 to € 12 per kg; Brass: € 6.0 to € 7.6 per kg; Aluminium: € 1.4 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 1.02. 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: € 6.0 to € 7.6 per kg
- Aluminium: € 1.4 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
Kabeldiebstahl, and the synthetic DNA on Deutsche Bahn cable
Cable theft is treated in Germany as a serious offence rather than a property nuisance, because what is taken is infrastructure. Operators of large networks are the main victims: public transport companies, energy suppliers, telecommunications firms and mining operations. German commentary ties the rise directly to world copper prices and to Chinese demand for non-ferrous metal.
Deutsche Bahn's response is worth knowing if you handle cable. For several years it has marked cable with a synthetic or artificial DNA, kunstliche DNA, which identifies the cable unambiguously as its property. The substance also adheres to the tool used and to the person handling it, so it works as evidence against the thief as well as a tag on the metal.
The practical implication for a legitimate dealer or seller is simple. Marked cable can be traced back to its owner after the fact, so provenance is not merely a paperwork question here. German incidents have fallen in recent years, but the problem is described as unsolved, and scrap and metal dealers are explicitly among those on alert.
Copper grades and the spread between them
German scrap copper is not quoted as one price. Market monitoring across roughly 34 Schrottplatze in 2026 covered about 12 separate copper grades, with prices ranging from around 1.00 to 11.00 euros a kilo.
That range is the point. The difference between the bottom and the top of the German copper market is roughly elevenfold, and it is decided by grade rather than by which yard you visit. Sorting and cleaning move you up that scale far more than negotiating does.
Selling scrap metal in Germany: rules, ID and payment
Scrap dealers must be registered under the Circular Economy Act (Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz) and keep records of the material they buy. Private sellers should expect to show ID, and buyers of larger lots must document the origin of the metal. Cash is still used for small lots but many dealers pay by transfer.
Before you sell
- Ask for the price as a percentage of LME for copper and compare dealers on that basis.
- Sort by the German grade names; unsorted metal is paid as the lowest grade.
- Ask whether the quote is net or gross of VAT.
Scrap prices by city in Germany
City pages for Germany are being added; the country board above already reflects prices in its main hubs: Duisburg and the Ruhr, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Munich, Berlin.
Scrap yards in Germany
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 Germany 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.
Germany scrap price FAQ
What is the scrap copper price per kg in Germany today?
As of October 22, 2026, the indicative scrap copper price in Germany is €11.13 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 Germany today?
Today's indicative non-ferrous prices in Germany are Copper €11.13 per kg, Brass €6.83 per kg, Radiator €6.39 per kg, Wire €5.37 per kg, with steel scrap at €300 per tonne. The full board above lists all 15 scrap types with the change against the previous close.
How are scrap prices quoted in Germany?
Non-ferrous scrap is quoted in EUR per kg and ferrous scrap per tonne. Dealers quote non-ferrous scrap in euros per kilogram, often as a percentage of the LME price for copper, and ferrous scrap in euros per tonne using the German grading system (for example Sorte 1 to 8 for steel scrap). Prices are usually quoted net of VAT for business sellers.
Do I need ID to sell scrap metal in Germany?
Scrap dealers must be registered under the Circular Economy Act (Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz) and keep records of the material they buy. Private sellers should expect to show ID, and buyers of larger lots must document the origin of the metal. Cash is still used for small lots but many dealers pay by transfer.
Which scrap metals pay the most in Germany?
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 Germany 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. Strong domestic mill and foundry demand keeps German prices at or slightly above the US reference after conversion.
Sources and methodology
Prices on this page start from the global reference board (US dollars per pound or per ton), are multiplied by a Germany market factor of 1.02 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
- BDSV (German steel recycling association) and VDM (metal traders association)
- LME settlement prices, European Central Bank exchange rates
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
- United Kingdom
- France
- Italy
- Spain
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Ireland
- Sweden
- Poland
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Czechia
- Portugal