Quick Answer: Scrap metal prices in Wellington NZ range from around $0.10/kg for cast iron and light steel up to $13/kg or more for clean copper. These are industry averages — actual payouts vary between dealers, by metal grade, and with global commodity markets. Below is a full breakdown of current prices, what affects them, and how New Zealand’s scrap metal export industry works.
What’s in This Guide
- Current Scrap Metal Prices in Wellington (2026 NZD)
- What Affects Scrap Metal Prices
- How Much Scrap Metal Is in a Car?
- Where Does NZ Scrap Metal Go? The Export Process
- New Zealand’s Scrap Metal Industry
- Selling a Scrap Car for Cash in Wellington
- Frequently Asked Questions
Current Scrap Metal Prices in Wellington (2026 NZD)
The table below shows typical dealer buy prices — what scrap yards actually pay per kilogram. These are industry averages based on North Island dealer pricing. Your actual payout will depend on the grade, cleanliness, and quantity of metal you’re selling.
| Metal Type | Price Range (NZD/kg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Copper (clean) | $10.90 – $13.20 | Highest value common scrap metal. Clean wire and pipe fetch the top end. |
| Brass | $5.40 – $7.00 | Taps, valves, fittings. Yellow brass pays more than mixed. |
| Aluminium | $1.90 – $2.65 | Cans, extrusions, window frames. Clean aluminium at the higher end. |
| Alloy Wheels | $1.40 – $1.80 | Cast aluminium alloy. Priced slightly below clean aluminium. |
| Stainless Steel | $0.75 – $1.20 | Grade 304 fetches the most. Mixed stainless sits lower. |
| Lead | $1.15 – $1.80 | Sheet lead and pipe. Wheel weights sit at the lower end. |
| Steel (heavy melt) | $0.18 – $0.35 | Structural steel, beams, thick plate. Most common scrap type. |
| Light Steel / Tin | $0.05 – $0.15 | Thin sheet metal, roofing iron, car body panels. |
| Cast Iron | $0.05 – $0.18 | Engine blocks, brake rotors, old baths. |
| Car Batteries | $5 – $15 each | Paid per battery, not per kg. Lead-acid auto batteries. |
Important: These prices are industry averages and fluctuate with global commodity markets. Dealers in Wellington may pay above or below these ranges depending on current demand, the volume you’re selling, and how clean the material is. Always get a quote on the day.
What Affects Scrap Metal Prices in NZ
Scrap metal prices aren’t fixed — they move constantly based on several factors:
Global Commodity Markets
New Zealand scrap prices track international commodity exchanges, particularly the London Metal Exchange (LME). When global copper or aluminium prices rise, local scrap prices follow — but with a lag and a margin for the dealer.
Metal Grade and Cleanliness
Clean, sorted metal always pays more than mixed or contaminated loads. A bag of clean copper wire will fetch significantly more per kg than a mixed load of copper with insulation still attached. The same applies to aluminium — clean extrusions pay more than painted or coated material.
Volume
Larger quantities generally attract better rates. A full trailer of steel is more efficient for a yard to process than a single car boot load, and that efficiency gets passed on as a higher price per kg.
Export Demand
Because most of New Zealand’s scrap metal is exported, demand from overseas buyers — particularly in Asia — has a direct impact on local prices. When Asian steel mills and smelters are buying aggressively, NZ prices rise. When demand drops, local prices follow.
How Much Scrap Metal Is in a Car?
An average car contains approximately 800–1,000 kg of recyclable metal. Here’s the typical breakdown:
| Metal | Approx. Weight | Found In |
|---|---|---|
| Steel | 500 – 700 kg | Body panels, chassis, structural frame |
| Aluminium | 80 – 150 kg | Engine block, wheels, radiator, trim |
| Cast Iron | 50 – 100 kg | Brake rotors, engine block (older cars) |
| Copper | 15 – 25 kg | Wiring harness, alternator, starter motor |
| Lead | 10 – 15 kg | Battery, wheel weights |
| Precious Metals | 2 – 8 grams | Catalytic converter (platinum, palladium, rhodium) |
At current scrap prices, the raw metal in an average car is worth roughly $150 – $350 in scrap value — though this varies with the vehicle’s size, age, and condition. SUVs and trucks contain more metal and are worth more. The catalytic converter alone can be worth $80–$600+ depending on the vehicle.
Where Does NZ Scrap Metal Go? The Export Process
New Zealand is a net exporter of scrap metal. Since Pacific Steel’s electric arc furnace in Ōtāhuhu closed in 2016, there is no domestic steel recycling facility left in the country. That means virtually all post-consumer steel scrap is exported. Around 90% of non-ferrous scrap (copper, aluminium, brass) is also exported.
The Export Supply Chain
Here’s how scrap metal moves from your property to an overseas steel mill:
- Collection — Scrap is collected from households, demolition sites, manufacturers, and vehicle wreckers by local yards and brokers.
- Sorting and Grading — Metal is weighed, separated by type, cleaned of contaminants, and graded to international standards.
- Processing — Scrap is baled, shredded, or cut to furnace-ready specifications. Car bodies are typically crushed and shredded.
- Consolidation — Exporters aggregate material from multiple yards into shipping container loads or bulk shipments.
- Shipping — Containers are loaded at ports (mainly Auckland, Tauranga, and Lyttelton) and shipped to overseas buyers.
- Smelting — The scrap is melted down at steel mills and foundries overseas and turned into new metal products.
Main Export Destinations
| Region | Key Countries | What They Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast Asia | Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore | Ferrous and non-ferrous scrap |
| South Asia | India, Bangladesh, Pakistan | Steel scrap, ship-breaking grade |
| East Asia | China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan | All grades, especially non-ferrous |
| Oceania | Australia | Specialty metals, some ferrous |
Scrap metal is New Zealand’s 17th largest export earner, with the industry handling approximately 400,000 tonnes of ferrous scrap and 55,000–60,000 tonnes of non-ferrous scrap annually. Total industry turnover is estimated at $600 million to $1 billion NZD per year.
New Zealand’s Scrap Metal Industry
The NZ scrap metal industry is made up of a mix of large multinational operators and smaller independent yards:
- Sims Metal — The largest operator in NZ with nine recycling yards across the country. Part of the global Sims Limited group, they process and export furnace-ready material.
- Phoenix Recycling Group — Exports recycled metals to more than 15 countries.
- Annex Metals — Christchurch-based, exports directly to Asia and Europe.
- Independent yards and car wreckers — Local operators that collect, sort, and sell to aggregators or export directly.
In Wellington, scrap metal from vehicles ends up in this same export pipeline. When a car is wrecked, the metals are separated — steel body panels go one way, the copper wiring harness another, aluminium engine components another — and each stream feeds into the global recycling supply chain.
Selling a Scrap Car for Cash in Wellington
If you’ve got an old, damaged, or unwanted car, the metal inside it has real value. But stripping a car down and selling the metals individually is time-consuming and requires equipment most people don’t have.
The easier option is to sell the whole car to a wrecker and get paid cash on the spot. At Trentham Wreckers, we factor in the full scrap metal value of your vehicle — steel, aluminium, copper, catalytic converter — and give you a price for the complete car.
We offer free car removal across the Wellington region, including Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt, Porirua, the Kapiti Coast, and the Hutt Valley. No need to transport the vehicle yourself.
GET A QUOTE FOR YOUR SCRAP CAR
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most valuable scrap metal in NZ?
Copper is the most valuable common scrap metal, paying $10.90–$13.20/kg for clean material. Precious metals like platinum and rhodium (found in catalytic converters) are worth far more per gram but are only found in very small quantities.
Why do scrap metal prices change so often?
NZ scrap prices track global commodity markets, particularly the London Metal Exchange. Prices also respond to demand from Asian steel mills and smelters, shipping costs, exchange rate movements, and seasonal construction activity.
Where does New Zealand’s scrap metal go?
The majority is exported to Asia — mainly Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China, South Korea, and Japan. Since New Zealand’s only domestic steel recycling facility (Pacific Steel in Ōtāhuhu) closed in 2016, virtually all post-consumer steel scrap is shipped overseas.
How much scrap metal is in an average car?
An average car contains 800–1,000 kg of recyclable metal, mostly steel (500–700 kg) plus aluminium, cast iron, copper, and lead. At current scrap prices, the raw metal value is roughly $150–$350.
Is it worth stripping a car for scrap metal?
For most people, no. Stripping a car takes hours of labour and specialised tools. Selling the whole car to a wrecker is faster and often pays more overall because the wrecker can efficiently recover all the valuable components — not just the metal.
Do scrap metal prices vary between Wellington dealers?
Yes. Prices vary between yards based on their processing capacity, export relationships, current stock levels, and overheads. It’s always worth getting quotes from multiple buyers, especially for larger quantities of non-ferrous metals like copper and brass.
