Smash Scrap Morning Metals Report – April 15, 2026

Prices as of April 15, 2026 at 02:56 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.

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• Gold — $4,811/oz ▼
• Silver — $79.99/oz ▲
• PGMs — Rh ▸ $9,950 · Pt ▲ $2,123 · Pd ▲ $1,572
• Copper — $6.07/lb ▼
• Aluminum — $1.64/lb ▲
• Steel Scrap — $413.00/mt ▸
• Macro Backdrop
• CAD — USD/CAD 1.3757

Smash Scrap Takeaways for Today

• Gold & Silver — Hold gold at $4,811 despite the $25 drop. Silver is up 50 cents to $80 and showing real strength. Detroit and Cleveland dealers should list silver inventory now to capture this momentum.
• PGMs — Platinum jumped $25 to $2,123 and looks strong. Auto recyclers in Atlanta and Los Angeles should hold platinum inventory as automotive demand improves. Palladium gained $1 but rhodium stayed flat at $9,950.
• Copper — Copper dropped about 2 cents to $6.07 per pound. Chicago and Houston yards should wait for stabilization before major copper sales as the recent rally takes a breather.
• Aluminum — Aluminum gained about 1 cent to $1.64 per pound. Pittsburgh recyclers should list aluminum now while this upward trend continues. Infrastructure spending is keeping demand steady.
• Big Picture — 4 of 8 metals higher today, showing mixed signals as markets balance supply concerns with economic uncertainty.

Macro Backdrop — Energy and Risk

Brent Crude Oil: $94.98/bbl, up $0.0500 (+0.05%) day-over-day.

Oil gained five cents today amid fresh geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, where Iran talks continue to influence energy markets. The modest crude increase reflects ongoing uncertainty about regional supply routes, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz where disruptions have already impacted sulfur exports used in metals production.

Higher energy costs are squeezing margins for Detroit and Chicago auto recyclers who rely on transportation to move heavy scrap loads. The dollar staying strong at current levels also pressures export-focused scrap dealers in Houston and Los Angeles, making American metal less attractive to overseas buyers. However, the combination of supply chain disruptions and potential infrastructure spending continues to support underlying demand for copper and aluminum scrap. Atlanta and Cleveland processors should watch for any escalation in Middle East tensions, as energy spikes could quickly shift the cost equation for both transportation and metals processing operations.

Gold — Safe-Haven Indicator

• Spot Gold (XAU): $4,811/oz, down $24.76 (-0.51%) day-over-day. Previous close: $4,836/oz.
• 5-day trend: ↓ 3 of last 5 sessions.

Gold dropped $25 to $4,811 per ounce today, giving back some of yesterday's gains amid ongoing Middle East tensions. Despite the pullback, scrap gold dealers should expect steady refiner interest as the metal holds above key support levels around $4,800. The modest decline reflects profit-taking rather than fundamental weakness, with geopolitical uncertainty and central bank purchasing programs continuing to underpin demand for the safe-haven metal.

Silver — Industrial & Precious Hybrid

• Spot Silver (XAG): $79.99/oz, up +$0.5025 (+0.63%) day-over-day. Previous close: $79.49/oz.
• 5-day trend: ↑ 4 of last 5 sessions.
• Gold/Silver ratio: 60.1:1.

Silver gained 50 cents today to reach $79.99/oz, continuing its strong momentum with gains in four of the last five trading sessions. The ongoing Middle East tensions that pushed oil higher are also supporting silver as both a safe-haven asset and industrial metal used in electronics and solar panels. At a gold-to-silver ratio of 60:1, silver remains attractively priced compared to gold, making it appealing for scrap dealers in Detroit and Chicago who handle electronic waste and industrial silver recovery.

Precious Metals (PGM) — Screen Indicators

• Platinum (Pt): $2,123/oz, up +$25.00 (+1.19%) day-over-day. Previous close: $2,098/oz. MoM: +0.4%.
• Platinum 5-day trend: ↑ 4 of last 5 sessions.
• Palladium (Pd): $1,572/oz, up +$1.00 (+0.06%) day-over-day. Previous close: $1,571/oz. MoM: -1.2%.
• Palladium 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.
• Rhodium (Rh): $9,950/oz, flat day-over-day. Previous close: $9,950/oz. MoM: -13.5%.
• Rhodium 5-day trend: ↓ 2 of last 5 sessions.

Platinum extended gains with a $25 jump continuing yesterday's rally, while palladium held steady with minimal movement despite recent momentum. Rhodium remained flat as buyers pause after mixed trading patterns. The ongoing Middle East tensions that lifted oil are creating supply chain concerns for auto catalyst processors in Detroit and Atlanta, supporting platinum demand from refiners seeking steady inventory flows. Houston scrap dealers should note that while platinum shows strong momentum with four up days in five sessions, palladium's modest gains suggest automotive demand is stabilizing rather than accelerating. Cleveland processors can expect continued refiner interest in platinum-bearing catalysts as geopolitical uncertainty keeps industrial buyers active, though rhodium's sideways action indicates the market is awaiting clearer direction signals.

Copper — Current Indicators

• COMEX/Spot Copper: $6.07/lb, down $0.0150 (-0.25%) day-over-day. Previous close: $6.09/lb.
• 5-day trend: ↑ 4 of last 5 sessions.

Copper dropped about 2 cents today to $6.07/lb, giving back some of yesterday's gains as Middle East tensions ease slightly. The small decline comes after copper's strong run higher, but the 4-out-of-5 day upward trend shows underlying strength from government infrastructure spending that I've been tracking. Detroit and Chicago scrap dealers should view this pullback as temporary, with #1 and #2 copper still commanding solid prices from refiners who need material for electrical grid projects.

Aluminum — Current Indicators

• LME Aluminum: $3,607/tonne ($1.64/lb), up +$0.0106 (+0.65%) day-over-day. Previous close: $1.63/lb.
• 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.

Aluminum gained a penny today to $1.64/lb, extending its steady climb as Middle East tensions keep energy costs elevated for primary smelters. This modest uptick continues the metal's strong monthly performance, with cast and sheet aluminum sellers in Detroit and Chicago seeing steady refiner demand. The ongoing disruptions to sulfur exports through the Strait of Hormuz are making energy-intensive primary production more expensive, which keeps scrap values attractive to processors. Extrusion dealers in Cleveland and Pittsburgh should expect this trend to hold as long as geopolitical uncertainty maintains pressure on global supply chains.

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.