Scrap metal prices per kg in Sri Lanka
| Scrap type | Price (LKR) | Change | Global reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-ferrous (per kg) | |||
| Copper Scrap | Rs 3,456 / kg | ▼ -2.28% | $5.56 / lb |
| Aluminum Scrap | Rs 479 / kg | ▼ -1.28% | $0.77 / lb |
| Brass Scrap | Rs 2,120 / kg | ▼ -1.73% | $3.41 / lb |
| Stainless Steel Scrap | Rs 354 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.57 / lb |
| Lead Scrap | Rs 367 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.59 / lb |
| Zinc Scrap | Rs 559 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.90 / lb |
| Battery Scrap | Rs 143 / kg | ▲ +0.00% | $0.23 / lb |
| Radiator Scrap | Rs 1,983 / kg | ▼ -2.45% | $3.19 / lb |
| Wire Scrap | Rs 1,666 / kg | ▼ -2.55% | $2.68 / lb |
| Cable Scrap | Rs 1,113 / kg | ▼ -2.19% | $1.79 / lb |
| Electronic Scrap | Rs 479 / kg | ▼ -2.53% | $0.77 / lb |
| Ferrous and bulk (per tonne) | |||
| Steel Scrap | Rs 93,241 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $300 / ton |
| Iron Scrap | Rs 82,052 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $264 / ton |
| Car Scrap | Rs 111,889 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $360 / ton |
| Cast Iron | Rs 89,512 / tonne | ▲ +0.00% | $288 / ton |
Indicative dealer prices for clean, sorted scrap. Global reference is the US board in US dollars; the Sri Lanka figure applies the exchange rate (1 USD = 331.71 LKR) and a local market factor of 0.85.
Yards quote in Sri Lankan rupees per kilogram. Prices here are derived from the exchange settlement, converted to rupees, and adjusted by a market factor of 0.85, our assessment of a small market with licensing between the seller and any export buyer. The factor is published on the editorial policy page and is open to challenge.
Sri Lanka scrap price chart (LKR)
Daily open, high, low and close for the most traded scrap metals in LKR 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 Sri Lanka
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 LKR.
The scrap market in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is tightening its scrap export rules again. In March the cabinet approved making an export control licence mandatory for scrap metal products, metal replicas and metal scraps, with the stated aim of preventing illegal export. The regulations were published as the Import and Export Control Regulations No. 5 of 2026 in extraordinary gazette 2493/03 of 15 June 2026, and were to be submitted to parliament for approval.
This is not the first attempt. An earlier restriction covered ferrous scrap along with copper, brass, aluminium, cast iron, white iron and high carbon steels, with exports permitted only on the recommendation of the Industrial Development Board and other related agencies. The reasoning given then was the same as now: domestic manufacturing needs the material.
What makes Sri Lanka worth reading rather than simply listing is that its own financial press said out loud what these rules do, in terms blunter than any government on this site has used.
- Currency
- Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)
- Units
- Kilogram
- Market factor
- 0.85 (our assessment, published on the editorial policy page)
- Current rule
- Export control licence required; Import and Export Control Regulations No. 5 of 2026
- Gazette
- Extraordinary gazette 2493/03 of 15 June 2026
- Metals named earlier
- Ferrous, copper, brass, aluminium, cast iron, white iron, high carbon steels
The most valuable scrap by weight in Sri Lanka today: Copper at Rs 3,456 per kg, Brass at Rs 2,120 per kg, Radiator at Rs 1,983 per kg, Wire at Rs 1,666 per kg, Cable at Rs 1,113 per kg.
Scrap metal rates in Sri Lanka, by grade
Rates in Sri Lanka are quoted per kilogram in LKR. Typical ranges are Copper: Rs 3,040 to Rs 3,870 per kg; Brass: Rs 1,865 to Rs 2,375 per kg; Aluminium: Rs 420 to Rs 535 per kg; Zinc: Rs 490 to Rs 625 per kg; Lead: Rs 325 to Rs 410 per kg; Stainless steel: Rs 310 to Rs 395 per kg. Across common non-ferrous grades that puts most material between Rs 310 and Rs 3,870 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 LKR and adjusted by our published market factor of 0.85. 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: Rs 3,040 to Rs 3,870 per kg
- Brass: Rs 1,865 to Rs 2,375 per kg
- Aluminium: Rs 420 to Rs 535 per kg
- Zinc: Rs 490 to Rs 625 per kg
- Lead: Rs 325 to Rs 410 per kg
- Stainless steel: Rs 310 to Rs 395 per kg
Selling scrap metal in Sri Lanka: rules, ID and payment
The practical position is that metal exports are to be made only on the recommendation of the Ministry of Industry, and that exporting without navigating the licensing system is to be made illegal. Confirm the current status with the relevant ministry before contracting, because the regulations were still progressing through parliament when published.
Separately, the same round of regulation addressed import timing. Goods imported under the prepayment system must arrive in Sri Lanka within 180, 365 or 730 days of payment, under an amendment gazetted on 18 June 2026. If you are importing rather than selling, that is the clause that affects you.
Domestic reporting has noted that licensing regimes of this kind attract criticism inside Sri Lanka as generally paving the way for corruption. We include that because it is part of the public record on these rules, not as a claim about any particular official.
Before you sell
- Establish whether your metal falls inside the controlled list. The earlier restriction named copper, brass, aluminium, cast iron, white iron and high carbon steels alongside ferrous.
- Confirm the licensing position with the Ministry of Industry rather than from news summaries. These regulations were moving through parliament.
- If you are importing under the prepayment system, note the 180, 365 or 730 day arrival windows.
- For domestic sales, expect offers to reflect a market where the export bid has been removed or routed through a licence.
- Keep records of origin. A controlled export regime makes provenance questions more likely, not less.
Scrap prices by city in Sri Lanka
City pages for Sri Lanka are being added; the country board above already reflects prices in its main hubs: Sri Lanka.
Scrap yards in Sri Lanka
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 Sri Lanka 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.
Sri Lanka scrap price FAQ
Can scrap metal be exported from Sri Lanka?
Only through a licence. The cabinet approved making an export control licence mandatory for scrap metal products, metal replicas and metal scraps, and the regulations were published as Import and Export Control Regulations No. 5 of 2026 in extraordinary gazette 2493/03 of 15 June 2026.
Which metals are covered?
An earlier restriction named ferrous scrap along with copper, brass, aluminium, cast iron, white iron and high carbon steels. Confirm the current controlled list with the Ministry of Industry rather than assuming the categories are unchanged.
Who approves an export?
Metal exports are to be made on the recommendation of the Ministry of Industry. Under the earlier regime, exports could proceed on the recommendation of the Industrial Development Board and other related agencies.
Why is the government doing this?
The stated aims are protecting local industrialists, preventing illegal export and supplying domestic manufacturing. That is the same reasoning given by every restricting market on this site.
What did the local press say about it?
Sri Lankan financial reporting observed that the government had not said which citizens it intended to advantage at the expense of those disadvantaged, and noted that the earnings most likely to fall are those of collectors who have little political clout.
How does scrap actually move in Sri Lanka?
Domestic reporting describes collection by people working small trucks and push carts, who take material to larger collectors paying cash upfront. That bottom layer is where an export restriction lands first.
What changed for importers?
A separate amendment gazetted on 18 June 2026 requires goods imported under the prepayment system to arrive in Sri Lanka within 180, 365 or 730 days of payment.
Is the licensing regime controversial?
Yes. Domestic reporting has noted criticism that regulations and licensing of this kind generally pave the way for corruption. That criticism is part of the public record on these measures.
What does this do to the price I am offered?
It lowers the ceiling. With the export bid removed or routed through a licence, domestic buyers compete mainly against each other rather than against overseas mills.
Should I expect the rules to stay as they are?
No. Sri Lanka has restricted, relaxed and re-restricted scrap exports across several years, and the 2026 regulations were still progressing through parliament when published. Verify before committing.
Sources and methodology
Prices on this page start from the global reference board (US dollars per pound or per ton), are multiplied by a Sri Lanka market factor of 0.85 that reflects local demand, freight and trade rules, and are converted to LKR at 1 USD = 331.71 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
- Sri Lankan cabinet decisions on export control licensing for scrap metal, March and June 2026
- Import and Export Control Regulations No. 5 of 2026, extraordinary gazette 2493/03
- Sri Lankan financial press reporting on the export control measures and their effect on collectors
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.
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