Prices as of March 17, 2026 at 12:31 PM UTC.
Market screen levels only — not yard pay prices. Actual buy prices at the scale will differ based on grade, moisture, contamination, and freight. The scrolling ticker at the top of this page shows live prices and may differ from the snapshot below.
5 of 8 metals higher (Gold, Silver & 3 others); 2 lower (Rhodium, Copper).
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- Gold — $5,022/oz ▲
- Silver — $80.82/oz ▲
- PGMs — Rh ▼ $11,450 · Pt ▲ $2,147 · Pd ▲ $1,608
- Copper — $5.76/lb ▼
- Aluminum — $1.55/lb ▲
- Steel Scrap — $413.00/mt ▸
- Macro Backdrop
- CAD — USD/CAD 1.3675
Smash Scrap Takeaways for Today
- Gold & Silver — Both metals pushed higher with gold up $22.71 to $5,022/oz and silver gaining 6 cents to $80.82/oz. Scrap sellers holding gold jewelry or silver catalysts should list today while momentum is positive.
- PGMs — Strong session for platinum-group metals with platinum surging $32 to $2,147/oz (+1.51%) and palladium up $17 to $1,608/oz. Only rhodium slipped $50 to $11,450/oz. Auto recyclers with cat inventory should capitalize on this platinum strength.
- Copper — Copper fell 7 cents to $5.76/lb (-1.26%), giving back some of yesterday's gains. Industrial scrap sellers in Detroit and Pittsburgh should hold off listing copper wire and tubing until this dip stabilizes.
- Aluminum — Aluminum edged up about 1 cent to $1.55/lb (+0.77%), showing steady demand. Scrap yards with clean aluminum inventory can sell confidently into this gradual uptrend.
- Big Picture — 5 of 8 metals moved higher today, indicating broad strength across precious metals and PGMs despite copper's pullback.
Macro Backdrop — Energy and Risk
Brent Crude Oil: $102.44/bbl, up $1.58 (+1.57%) day-over-day.
Oil surged $1.58 higher as Middle East tensions escalate, with reports suggesting "peak war panic" could hit global markets within weeks. The Treasury confirmed it's not intervening in oil markets, leaving crude prices to reflect supply disruption fears from the Iran conflict affecting Strait of Hormuz traffic. This energy spike creates mixed signals for scrap yards from Detroit to Houston — higher transportation costs squeeze margins, but steel mills often pass through energy surcharges that can boost heavy melt values.
The dollar weakened slightly while Treasury yields edged up, suggesting markets are pricing in both growth risks and inflation pressures from the oil rally. Scrap dealers should watch for mill buyers to become more selective if energy costs keep climbing, though any supply chain disruptions could actually tighten domestic scrap availability. Auto recyclers may see stronger demand for aluminum and copper components as manufacturers look to offset higher steel input costs with lighter materials.
Gold — Safe-Haven Indicator
- Spot Gold (XAU): $5,022/oz, up +$22.71 (+0.45%) day-over-day. Previous close: $5,000/oz.
- 5-day trend: ↓ 4 of last 5 sessions.
Gold edged higher as Middle East tensions continue to support safe-haven demand, with the escalating Iran conflict and disrupted Strait of Hormuz traffic keeping investors on edge amid fears of "peak war panic" hitting markets soon. The modest gain builds on yesterday's advance, offering steady pricing for scrap gold sellers from Detroit auto recyclers to Los Angeles e-waste processors who've seen consistent demand at these elevated levels. With geopolitical risks still unresolved and oil markets reflecting supply disruption fears, gold's safe-haven premium remains intact, benefiting jewelers and industrial scrap dealers across American markets from Chicago to Atlanta.
Silver — Industrial & Precious Hybrid
- Spot Silver (XAG): $80.82/oz, up +$0.0650 (+0.08%) day-over-day. Previous close: $80.75/oz.
- 5-day trend: ↓ 3 of last 5 sessions.
- Gold/Silver ratio: 62.1:1.
Silver edged up six cents amid escalating Middle East tensions that sent oil surging, though the modest gain shows the precious metal is lagging behind oil's panic-driven rally. For scrap sellers from Detroit to Houston, today's move keeps silver steady around $81 per ounce, supporting decent returns on electronics recycling and industrial silver scrap, while the gold-to-silver ratio of 62:1 suggests silver remains relatively affordable compared to gold. However, silver's recent weakness—down in three of the last five sessions—indicates scrap yards should expect continued choppiness as the market weighs silver's dual role as both a safe haven and industrial metal used in solar panels and electronics.
Precious Metals (PGM) — Screen Indicators
- Platinum (Pt): $2,147/oz, up +$32.00 (+1.51%) day-over-day. Previous close: $2,115/oz.
- Platinum 5-day trend: ↓ 3 of last 5 sessions.
- Palladium (Pd): $1,608/oz, up +$17.00 (+1.07%) day-over-day. Previous close: $1,591/oz.
- Palladium 5-day trend: ↓ 3 of last 5 sessions.
- Rhodium (Rh): $11,450/oz, down $50.00 (-0.43%) day-over-day. Previous close: $11,500/oz.
- Rhodium 5-day trend: ↓ 2 of last 5 sessions.
Platinum and palladium both gained ground today as Middle East tensions kept industrial metals supported, with platinum adding $32 and palladium up $17, continuing yesterday's upward momentum from auto recyclers in Detroit and Chicago. Rhodium bucked the trend with a $50 decline, though all three metals have shown mixed signals over the past week despite geopolitical risk premiums. Scrap sellers should note that while today's gains are encouraging, the ongoing supply disruption fears from the Iran conflict affecting global trade routes could create more price swings ahead, making timing crucial for catalytic converter and industrial PGM sales.
Copper — Current Indicators
- COMEX/Spot Copper: $5.76/lb, down $0.0735 (-1.26%) day-over-day. Previous close: $5.84/lb.
- 5-day trend: ↓ 4 of last 5 sessions.
Copper dropped about 7 cents today as escalating Middle East tensions sent oil surging to $102.44, creating uncertainty across industrial metals markets. The red metal has now fallen in 4 of the last 5 sessions, reversing yesterday's 2% gain and putting pressure on scrap yards from Detroit to Houston as buyers pull back amid volatile energy costs. Sellers of #1 and #2 copper, bare bright wire, and mixed copper grades should expect cautious pricing from dealers who are watching how sustained oil spikes might impact manufacturing demand and transportation costs.
Aluminum — Current Indicators
- LME Aluminum: $3,417/tonne ($1.55/lb), up +$0.0119 (+0.77%) day-over-day. Previous close: $1.54/lb.
- 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.
Aluminum gained about a penny today as Middle East tensions continue pushing energy costs higher, with oil now at $102.44 per barrel creating upward pressure across industrial metals. The modest uptick helps scrap sellers in Detroit, Chicago, and Houston who've seen aluminum showing strength in 3 of the last 5 sessions, though the gains remain small compared to oil's dramatic surge. Cast aluminum and sheet metal recyclers should watch whether sustained energy disruption fears translate into stronger demand from manufacturers looking to secure supply, particularly as higher transportation costs could favor domestic scrap over imports.
Steel Scrap (Shredded (SHS), scrapmonster) — Current Indicators
- Steel Scrap Shredded (SHS) (SCRAP-SHS): $413.00/mt, flat day-over-day. Previous close: $413.00/mt.
- 5-day trend: → flat over last 5 sessions.
- HMS 1&2 (80:20) (SCRAP-HM): $366.00/mt (flat day-over-day).
Want to move PGM-bearing material, copper, aluminum, or steel scrap through competitive bidding? List your lots on Smash Scrap and let vetted buyers compete for your scrap.