Scrap metal prices per kg in New Zealand
| Scrap type | Price (NZD) | Change | Global reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-ferrous (per kg) | |||
| Copper Scrap | NZ$21.45 / kg | ▲ +1.77% | $5.75 / lb |
| Aluminum Scrap | NZ$3.02 / kg | ▲ +1.25% | $0.81 / lb |
| Brass Scrap | NZ$13.06 / kg | ▲ +1.45% | $3.50 / lb |
| Stainless Steel Scrap | NZ$2.13 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.57 / lb |
| Lead Scrap | NZ$2.20 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.59 / lb |
| Zinc Scrap | NZ$3.36 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.90 / lb |
| Battery Scrap | NZ$0.86 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.23 / lb |
| Radiator Scrap | NZ$12.35 / kg | ▲ +1.85% | $3.31 / lb |
| Wire Scrap | NZ$10.37 / kg | ▲ +1.83% | $2.78 / lb |
| Cable Scrap | NZ$6.90 / kg | ▲ +1.65% | $1.85 / lb |
| Electronic Scrap | NZ$2.95 / kg | ▲ +1.28% | $0.79 / lb |
| Ferrous and bulk (per tonne) | |||
| Steel Scrap | NZ$560 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $300 / ton |
| Iron Scrap | NZ$492 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $264 / ton |
| Car Scrap | NZ$672 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $360 / ton |
| Cast Iron | NZ$537 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $288 / ton |
Indicative dealer prices for clean, sorted scrap. Global reference is the US board in US dollars; the New Zealand figure applies the exchange rate (1 USD = 1.78 NZD) and a local market factor of 0.95.
Yards quote in New Zealand dollars per kilogram. Prices here are derived from the exchange settlement, converted to New Zealand dollars, and adjusted by a market factor of 0.95, our assessment of a well-regulated market with limited domestic processing and long freight distances to the main consumers. The factor is published on the editorial policy page and is open to challenge.
New Zealand scrap price chart (NZD)
Daily open, high, low and close for the most traded scrap metals in NZD 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 New Zealand
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 NZD.
The scrap market in New Zealand
New Zealand generates scrap in a country of five million people with one steel mill of consequence, so most of what is collected leaves. Ferrous goes to mills around the Pacific rim, and non-ferrous follows world benchmarks closely because there is little domestic processing capacity to bid against exporters.
That shapes what a seller experiences. Prices track international markets more directly than in countries with a large domestic consuming industry, which means less local cushioning when the world price falls and less lag when it rises.
Distance is the other structural factor. Freight from New Zealand to Asian consumers is long, and that cost sits between the world price and what a yard can pay you.
- Currency
- New Zealand dollar (NZD)
- Units
- Kilogram
- Market factor
- 0.95 (our assessment, published on the editorial policy page)
- Market shape
- Export-led, with limited domestic processing capacity
The most valuable scrap by weight in New Zealand today: Copper at NZ$21.45 per kg, Brass at NZ$13.06 per kg, Radiator at NZ$12.35 per kg, Wire at NZ$10.37 per kg, Cable at NZ$6.90 per kg.
Scrap metal rates in New Zealand, by grade
Rates in New Zealand are quoted per kilogram in NZD. Typical ranges are Copper: NZ$ 19 to NZ$ 24 per kg; Brass: NZ$ 11 to NZ$ 15 per kg; Aluminium: NZ$ 2.7 to NZ$ 3.4 per kg; Zinc: NZ$ 3.0 to NZ$ 3.8 per kg; Lead: NZ$ 1.9 to NZ$ 2.5 per kg; Stainless steel: NZ$ 1.9 to NZ$ 2.4 per kg. Across common non-ferrous grades that puts most material between NZ$ 1.9 and NZ$ 24 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 NZD and adjusted by our published market factor of 0.95. 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: NZ$ 19 to NZ$ 24 per kg
- Brass: NZ$ 11 to NZ$ 15 per kg
- Aluminium: NZ$ 2.7 to NZ$ 3.4 per kg
- Zinc: NZ$ 3.0 to NZ$ 3.8 per kg
- Lead: NZ$ 1.9 to NZ$ 2.5 per kg
- Stainless steel: NZ$ 1.9 to NZ$ 2.4 per kg
Copper in any form has its own rule
New Zealand Police guidance for scrap metal dealers is specific on one point that a seller should know about, because it shapes how a yard will handle your load.
Retention and labelling requirements apply to copper in any form, and failing to comply with them is an offence. That phrasing matters: in any form means it is not limited to cable or to obviously identifiable pieces.
For you as a seller, the practical effect is that a compliant dealer will take details, label your copper and hold it rather than processing it immediately. That is not hesitation about your material. It is the dealer meeting a requirement that carries a penalty if they ignore it.
Scrap metal dealers in New Zealand sit within the secondhand dealer and pawnbroker framework, so expect identification to be part of the transaction and treat a buyer who skips it as taking a risk with your material as well as their own licence.
Selling scrap metal in New Zealand: rules, ID and payment
Scrap metal dealing sits within New Zealand's secondhand dealer and pawnbroker framework, so identification is part of a normal transaction and a licensed dealer will ask for it.
The specific rule to know concerns copper, and it is set out below.
Before you sell
- Separate non-ferrous before you go. With limited domestic processing, yards pay for material they can ship cleanly.
- Expect identification to be requested. It is part of the dealer framework, not a judgement about you.
- For copper, expect your material to be recorded, labelled and held rather than processed immediately.
- Compare two or three yards. Freight and shipping schedules differ between operators and that difference reaches your price.
Scrap prices by city in New Zealand
City pages for New Zealand are being added; the country board above already reflects prices in its main hubs: New Zealand.
Scrap yards in New Zealand
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 New Zealand 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.
New Zealand scrap price FAQ
Why are New Zealand scrap prices below international references?
Mostly distance and scale. A small domestic market with limited processing capacity means most metal is exported, and freight to Asian consumers is long. Both costs sit between the world price and what a yard can pay.
Do I need identification to sell scrap in New Zealand?
Expect to provide it. Scrap metal dealers operate within the secondhand dealer and pawnbroker framework, so identification is part of a normal transaction with a licensed buyer.
Is there a special rule for copper?
Yes. Retention and labelling requirements apply to copper in any form, and failing to comply with them is an offence for the dealer. In practice your copper will be recorded, labelled and held rather than processed straight away.
What does copper in any form mean?
It is deliberately broad. The requirement is not limited to cable or to obviously identifiable pieces, so a compliant dealer will apply it across copper generally rather than only to material that looks like it came off infrastructure.
Does New Zealand process its own scrap?
Only to a limited extent. There is one steel mill of consequence and little secondary non-ferrous capacity, so the domestic chain absorbs a small share and the rest is shipped.
How should I get the best price?
Separate your metals before you go, weigh or estimate properly, and compare two or three yards. Because operators differ in freight arrangements and shipping schedules, quotes for the same material vary more than you might expect.
Is cash payment allowed?
Practice varies by dealer and by transaction size. Ask before you go, and keep a record of the sale regardless of how you are paid.
What happens if a dealer skips the paperwork?
They are taking a risk with their own licence, and with your material. A buyer who does not record a copper transaction is not doing you a favour; they are creating a gap that becomes your problem if the material is ever questioned.
Sources and methodology
Prices on this page start from the global reference board (US dollars per pound or per ton), are multiplied by a New Zealand market factor of 0.95 that reflects local demand, freight and trade rules, and are converted to NZD at 1 USD = 1.78 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
- New Zealand Police guidance for scrap metal dealers on retention and labelling requirements
- New Zealand secondhand dealer and pawnbroker licensing framework
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.