Smash Scrap Morning Metals Report – April 28, 2026

Prices as of April 28, 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.

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• Gold — $4,582/oz ▼
• Silver — $72.98/oz ▼
• PGMs — Rh ▸ $10,000 · Pt ▼ $1,921 · Pd ▼ $1,427
• Copper — $5.89/lb ▼
• Aluminum — $1.60/lb ▼
• Steel Scrap — $413.00/mt ▸
• Macro Backdrop
• CAD — USD/CAD 1.3615

Smash Scrap Takeaways for Today

• Gold & Silver — Hold scrap gold and silver lots; prices dropped over 2% and 3% today—call yards for quotes but wait for rebound signals before selling[1][3].
• PGMs — Sell clean platinum and palladium scrap now if lots ready; down 3% and 2% with rhodium flat—sort and negotiate for best yard rates[1][2].
• Copper — Prepare copper scrap by stripping wire and sorting clean; 14 cents lower per lb—shop multiple yards midweek to beat lower offers[1][3].
• Aluminum — Bundle aluminum scrap tightly and remove attachments; down 2 cents per lb—weigh ahead and visit quiet yards Tuesday-Thursday for better deals[1][2].
• Big Picture — No metals higher today with 6 lower; hold inventory short-term and focus on prep to maximize payouts in down market[1].

Macro Backdrop — Energy and Risk

Brent Crude Oil: $104.04/bbl, up $2.43 (+2.39%) day-over-day.

**Macro Backdrop — Energy and Risk**

Brent crude oil rose to $104.04 per barrel, up $2.43 or 2.39% today. This gain adds to energy costs for scrap melting and transport. Higher oil supports metals demand from autos and building, but watch for pullback risks.[1][6]

The US dollar weakened against the CAD at 1.3615. Dollar index fell to 90.82, while 10-year yields eased to 4.31% and inflation views ticked up to 2.44%. Auto output dropped to 102.63, signaling softer demand. Nickel hit a two-year high on tight supply, but copper and stainless scrap edged higher amid mixed China prices—risks lean cautious for scrap flows.[2][recent headlines]

Gold — Safe-Haven Indicator

• Spot Gold (XAU): $4,582/oz, down $108.19 (-2.31%) day-over-day. Previous close: $4,690/oz.
• 5-day trend: ↓ 3 of last 5 sessions.

Gold fell to $4,582 per ounce today, down $108 or 2.31%, with prices dropping in 3 of the last 5 sessions. Higher Brent crude oil at $104.04 per barrel raises melting and transport costs, adding pressure on scrap sellers. Hold scrap gold for now as the market may stabilize soon.[1][2]

Silver — Industrial & Precious Hybrid

• Spot Silver (XAG): $72.98/oz, down $2.89 (-3.81%) day-over-day. Previous close: $75.87/oz.
• 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.
• Gold/Silver ratio: 62.8:1.

Silver spot price fell to **$72.98 per ounce**, down **$2.89** or **3.81%** today. Even with higher energy costs from Brent crude oil at **$104.04 per barrel**, scrap sellers face refining backlogs and tight physical supply that slow sales. Hold scrap silver for now, as the market shows gains in **3 of the last 5 sessions** amid strong industrial demand.[1][4][5]

Precious Metals (PGM) — Screen Indicators

• Platinum (Pt): $1,921/oz, down $68.00 (-3.42%) day-over-day. Previous close: $1,989/oz. MoM: +3.1%.
• Platinum 5-day trend: ↓ 3 of last 5 sessions.
• Palladium (Pd): $1,427/oz, down $32.00 (-2.19%) day-over-day. Previous close: $1,459/oz. MoM: +4.7%.
• Palladium 5-day trend: ↓ 3 of last 5 sessions.
• Rhodium (Rh): $10,000/oz, flat day-over-day. Previous close: $10,000/oz. MoM: -7.4%.
• Rhodium 5-day trend: ↓ 2 of last 5 sessions.

**PGM prices** fell today for scrap sellers. Platinum dropped $68 to $1,921 per ounce, down 3.42%, and palladium fell $32 to $1,427 per ounce, down 2.19%, with both down in 3 of the last 5 sessions. Rhodium stayed flat at $10,000 per ounce, though it dipped in 2 of the last 5 sessions; higher energy costs from Brent crude at $104.04 per barrel may squeeze melting and transport profits.

Copper — Current Indicators

• COMEX/Spot Copper: $5.89/lb, down $0.1410 (-2.34%) day-over-day. Previous close: $6.03/lb.
• 5-day trend: ↓ 4 of last 5 sessions.

**Copper** scrap prices fell to **$5.89 per pound** today, down 14 cents or 2.34% in a market dropping 4 of the last 5 days. Higher **Brent crude oil** at $104.04 per barrel raises melting and trucking costs, adding pressure on sellers. Long-term demand from EVs and green tech points to growth ahead, so hold tight if you can.[1][2][6]

Aluminum — Current Indicators

• LME Aluminum: $3,535/tonne ($1.60/lb), down $0.0208 (-1.28%) day-over-day. Previous close: $1.62/lb.
• 5-day trend: ↓ 4 of last 5 sessions.

Aluminum prices fell to $1.60 per pound today, down about 2 cents or 1.28%. The market dropped in 4 of the last 5 days, even as Brent crude oil rose to $104.04 per barrel and added to melting and transport costs. Scrap sellers should hold tight, as long-term recycling demand looks strong despite the short-term dip.

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.