Smash Scrap Morning Metals Report – March 10, 2026

Prices as of March 10, 2026 at 05:41 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 — $5,232/oz ▲
• Silver — $89.35/oz ▲
• PGMs — Rh ▸ $11,650 · Pt ▲ $2,224 · Pd ▼ $1,665
• Copper — $5.96/lb ▲
• Aluminum — $1.54/lb ▲
• Steel Scrap — $413.00/mt ▸
• Macro Backdrop
• CAD — USD/CAD 1.3574

Smash Scrap Takeaways for Today

• Gold & Silver — Both metals up strong with gold gaining $103.85 to $5,232/oz (+2.03%) and silver up $2.26 to $89.35/oz (+2.59%). Our models called both higher — confirmed. Sell today if you need cash flow, or hold through week-end as momentum remains solid across Detroit and Chicago yards.
• PGMs — Platinum surged $58 to $2,224/oz (+2.68%) while palladium slipped $6 to $1,665/oz (-0.36%). Rhodium flat at $11,650/oz. Strong platinum gains suggest auto catalyst demand recovering — sell platinum scrap now in Houston and LA markets before any pullback.
• Copper — Up 6 cents to $5.96/lb (+1.03%) as industrial demand holds steady. Our models expected flat action but copper surprised higher. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh yards paying well — good time to move clean copper before any consolidation.
• Aluminum — Modest gain of less than a cent to $1.54/lb (+0.44%) shows steady but unexciting demand. Cleveland and Atlanta yards offering fair prices — sell if you have volume, but no urgency to rush smaller lots to market.
• Big Picture — Strong day with 5 of 8 metals higher, showing broad-based strength across precious and industrial metals markets.

Macro Backdrop — Energy and Risk

Brent Crude Oil: $81.71/bbl, down $10.18 (-11.08%) day-over-day.

Oil's sharp $10.18 drop reflects easing tensions in the Middle East conflict, with markets betting on a shorter war duration as suggested by recent geopolitical developments. The weaker dollar and rising Treasury yields create a mixed backdrop for commodities, while inflation expectations remain anchored near Fed targets. This energy pullback reduces transportation costs for scrap haulers across Detroit to Houston, potentially improving margins for yard operators who've faced elevated diesel expenses.

The macro environment shows conflicting signals for scrap demand. Lower energy costs should help manufacturing activity in the Rust Belt and Southeast, supporting steel consumption from auto plants in Detroit and industrial facilities in Pittsburgh. However, the uptick in 10-year yields to 4.15% may pressure construction spending that drives structural steel demand. Precious metals are finding safe-haven support despite oil's decline, suggesting broader uncertainty that could benefit scrap copper and aluminum as supply-chain hedges for manufacturers in Chicago and Los Angeles markets.

Gold — Safe-Haven Indicator

• Spot Gold (XAU): $5,232/oz, up +$103.85 (+2.03%) day-over-day. Previous close: $5,128/oz.
• 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.

Gold continues its upward momentum today, extending gains from yesterday as the weaker dollar and easing Middle East tensions create a supportive backdrop for precious metals. The strong move higher benefits scrap gold sellers across Detroit, Chicago, and Houston markets, where dealers are paying higher rates for jewelry, dental gold, and electronic components containing the metal. As safe-haven demand remains solid despite reduced geopolitical risks, recyclers processing e-waste and auto catalysts should find receptive buyers, though sellers should monitor whether this rally can sustain above current levels given the mixed signals from Treasury yields.

Silver — Industrial & Precious Hybrid

• Spot Silver (XAG): $89.35/oz, up +$2.26 (+2.59%) day-over-day. Previous close: $87.09/oz.
• 5-day trend: ↑ 4 of last 5 sessions.
• Gold/Silver ratio: 58.6:1.

Silver gained momentum today as easing Middle East tensions helped stabilize broader commodity markets, with the weaker dollar providing additional support for precious metals. The gold-to-silver ratio at 58.6-to-1 suggests silver remains attractively valued relative to gold, creating solid conditions for scrap sellers across Detroit, Chicago, and Houston yards to move material. Electronics recyclers and industrial scrap dealers should note silver's continued strength reflects both its safe-haven appeal and robust industrial demand from solar panel manufacturing, making this a favorable environment for clearing silver-bearing components and catalytic converters.

Precious Metals (PGM) — Screen Indicators

• Platinum (Pt): $2,224/oz, up +$58.00 (+2.68%) day-over-day. Previous close: $2,166/oz.
• Platinum 5-day trend: ↑ 4 of last 5 sessions.
• Palladium (Pd): $1,665/oz, down $6.00 (-0.36%) day-over-day. Previous close: $1,671/oz.
• Palladium 5-day trend: ↓ 3 of last 5 sessions.
• Rhodium (Rh): $11,650/oz, flat day-over-day. Previous close: $11,650/oz.
• Rhodium 5-day trend: → flat over last 5 sessions.

Platinum continues its recent strength with a $58 gain today, building on the upward momentum seen across most sessions lately as easing Middle East tensions and stabilizing oil markets create a more favorable backdrop for industrial metals. Palladium pulled back slightly with a $6 decline, while rhodium held steady at elevated levels around $11,650 per ounce, maintaining the same price range it's traded in recently. For scrap sellers from Detroit auto plants to Houston refineries, the mixed PGM picture suggests selective opportunities, with platinum's sustained rally offering the best near-term returns for catalytic converter and jewelry scrap, while palladium's recent softness may present timing considerations for those holding automotive scrap inventory.

Copper — Current Indicators

• COMEX/Spot Copper: $5.96/lb, up +$0.0605 (+1.03%) day-over-day. Previous close: $5.90/lb.
• 5-day trend: ↑ 4 of last 5 sessions.

Copper held steady at yesterday's gains as easing Middle East tensions helped stabilize industrial metals markets, with the red metal showing strength in 4 of the last 5 trading sessions. Scrap yards from Detroit to Houston should see continued firm pricing for #1 and #2 copper, bare bright wire, and THHN as the metal trades near recent highs above the $5.90 level. With oil prices cooling and geopolitical risks fading, copper's recent momentum suggests steady demand from electrical contractors and industrial buyers who've been restocking after previous price volatility.

Aluminum — Current Indicators

• LME Aluminum: $3,399/tonne ($1.54/lb), up +$0.0067 (+0.44%) day-over-day. Previous close: $1.54/lb.
• 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.

Aluminum gained a fraction of a cent as easing Middle East tensions helped stabilize commodity markets, with the metal showing strength in 3 of the last 5 sessions. Scrap yards from Detroit to Houston should see steady demand for cast aluminum from auto recyclers, while sheet and extrusion sellers in Chicago and Los Angeles can expect consistent pricing as industrial buyers remain active. The gradual upward trend suggests aluminum recyclers have solid footing heading into spring, when construction and manufacturing demand typically picks up across American markets.

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.