Copper, Brass and Aluminium Scrap Rates in Pakistan Explained

Old wires, taps, utensils and radiators are worth more than many people realise. Scrap dealers (kabari) and recyclers price them from the world metal price, the rupee and the condition of the scrap. Here is how it works.

The starting point: the metal price

Copper, aluminium and zinc trade on international metal exchanges. We convert those prices into rupees per kilogram on our metal rates page. Today pure copper is about Rs 4,029 per kg.

Why scrap is paid below the metal price

A scrap dealer has to sort, strip, transport and sell the material to a furnace or recycler, who then melts and refines it. Each step has a cost and a margin, so the rate paid to the public is below the pure-metal price. How far below depends mostly on the grade.

Common grades

• Bright copper wire — clean, stripped, unalloyed wire. The highest scrap rate.
• Mixed / heavy copper — pipes and sheet that may be tarnished or soldered. Somewhat lower.
• Insulated wire — priced on estimated copper content, so much lower per kg.
• Brass (peetal) — copper with zinc, used in taps, fittings and utensils. Priced below copper because it contains less of it.
• Bronze (kansi) — copper with tin; used in bells, statues and some utensils.
• Aluminium — cans, utensils, window sections and cast parts, each at a different rate.

Units: kilograms and the maund

Scrap is quoted per kilogram, and larger lots are often priced per maund (mun) of 40 kg. Our metal pages show prices per kg, per maund, per 100 kg and per tonne.

Getting a better price

• Separate your metals. Mixed scrap is priced at the rate of its cheapest component.
• Strip insulation from wire if you can do so safely — clean copper earns far more per kg.
• Remove iron screws, plastic and rubber from brass and aluminium items.
• Weigh first and know the day's metal price before you negotiate.

Use the scrap calculator on the copper, brass or aluminium page to estimate a value, with a deduction for grade and impurities.