The scrap aluminium price is not a fixed figure: it starts from the aluminium price on the London Metal Exchange (LME) and is then adjusted for the type of aluminium, how clean it is and how much there is. That’s why there is no single price per kilo of aluminium: clean window extrusions, a bale of cans and a sump with bits of iron still attached are worth different amounts on the same day. The most reliable way to find out what your aluminium is worth per kilo is to ask for a valuation, giving the type of material, a photo and the approximate quantity.
What determines the scrap aluminium price?
Any serious valuation rests on five factors. The first is set by the market; the other four depend on your material and how you deliver it.
| Factor | What it means |
|---|---|
| LME price | The international aluminium price, in dollars per tonne, and the euro–dollar exchange rate |
| Type of aluminium | Extrusions, cans, wheels, castings, sheet or turnings: each is a different alloy with a different destination |
| Cleanliness | How much plastic, iron, oil, moisture or other metals it contains |
| Quantity and format | The size of the lot, whether it is regular and whether it arrives loose or baled |
| Logistics | Where the material is and whether a container or collection is needed |
How does the LME price come into it?
The London Metal Exchange is the benchmark exchange for non-ferrous metals. Its aluminium price is quoted in dollars per tonne, so in Spain the euro price moves with both the LME itself and the euro–dollar exchange rate.
Primary aluminium is very electricity-intensive, so energy costs weigh heavily on its price, along with demand from construction, the automotive industry and packaging, Chinese output and tariffs. Scrap is not priced at the primary aluminium level: it has to be sorted, transported and remelted, and each grade keeps its own spread against the benchmark. We explain what drives these prices in our article on why metal prices fluctuate, and how the LME works in our article on the BIR Academy.
What types of aluminium scrap are there?
This is the question that matters most for the price. Each type of aluminium scrap is a different alloy and goes to a different kind of foundry, which is why each is valued separately:
| Type | Where it comes from | What reduces its value |
|---|---|---|
| Extrusions | Windows, façades, metal joinery | Thermal breaks, seals, screws and fixings, traces of glass or iron |
| Cans (UBC) | Separate collection, household waste recycling centres, sorting plants | Plastic, food residue, steel cans mixed in |
| Wheels | Automotive | Tyres, valves, balance weights |
| Sumps and castings | Engines, gearboxes, die-castings | Oil, steel inserts and fixings |
| Light-gauge aluminium and sheet | Kitchenware, sheet, assorted parts | Mixed alloys, paint, plastics |
| Turnings and swarf | Machine shops | Cutting fluid, moisture, turnings from other metals |
| Aluminium-copper radiators | Automotive, air conditioning, heat exchangers | Contaminants and iron brackets |
Clean extrusions and cans are among the most sought-after fractions: extrusions because they are clean and of a uniform alloy, and cans because they are made back into cans in a closed loop. If you are looking for the price of aluminium cans per kilo, bear in mind that it depends mainly on how clean they are and whether they arrive baled or loose.
Why does cleanliness make such a difference to the price?
Because anything that isn’t aluminium adds weight on the weighbridge and then has to be removed. Plastic and rubber burn off in the furnace, iron and copper dissolve into the aluminium and take it out of specification, and oil or moisture is a hazard during melting.
The material doesn’t have to arrive in perfect condition. Thermally broken extrusions, for example, are accepted: the plastic is removed during processing, but it affects the price. What adds the most value is also the simplest: don’t mix different types of aluminium, pick out the iron parts with a magnet, and drain off any oil and cutting fluid.
Does quantity count?
Yes. A large, uniform lot lowers handling and transport costs per tonne, and a regular supply means collections and containers can be planned. Format matters too: baled cans or well-strapped extrusions are easier to load and process than loose, mixed material.
For a company that generates aluminium on an ongoing basis, the usual arrangement is regular collections with a container. For small quantities, the practical option is to take it straight to a buying centre.
How do you get a valuation for your aluminium scrap?
The more information you give us, the more accurate the valuation:
- The type of aluminium: extrusions, cans, wheels, sumps, sheet, turnings or radiators.
- A photo of the whole batch and a close-up, so we can see how clean it is and whether there are any contaminants.
- The approximate quantity and format: loose, in bulk bags or in bales.
- The location and whether you need a container or a collection.
- Whether it will be recurring, and roughly how much per month.
With that information we’ll give you an indicative valuation within 48 working hours. The final price is confirmed when the material is weighed and sorted, because that is when its actual condition can be seen. You can send us your enquiry through our contact page.
How does Alberich handle aluminium?
We sort aluminium by type from the moment it arrives and process it on our own lines. In 2015 we added a dedicated line for aluminium cans, which we upgraded in 2021 with a second phase, and since 2012 we have been producing aluminium for secondary remelting from the Zorba that comes out of our post-shredder separation. Our newest line, for aluminium and radiators, separates the copper from the aluminium in mixed radiators so that we can pay for them by metal rather than as a mix.
The sorted aluminium goes to secondary aluminium remelters, and recycling it saves up to 95% of the energy needed to produce it from bauxite. You’ll find the details of each grade under aluminium extrusions and used beverage cans (UBC), and the full list of materials under what we buy.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there no fixed rate per kilo of aluminium?
Because the price changes with the LME price and the exchange rate, and because every lot is different. A fixed rate would only be fair for one specific material at one specific moment, which is why we value each lot for what it is.
Do you buy thermally broken aluminium extrusions?
Yes. The plastic thermal break is separated out during processing. It affects the final price, but it is no reason to turn the material away.
How can I tell whether a can is aluminium or steel?
Hold a magnet to it. Aluminium cans won’t stick; steel cans, like many food tins, will. It’s worth separating them beforehand, because steel cans count as a contaminant in an aluminium lot.
Can I sell aluminium as a private individual?
Yes. You can take it to our sites or to the Scrap Center buying points, where it is weighed and paid for according to the type of aluminium and its condition. Companies also receive the waste documentation.
Got aluminium to sell? Tell us what type it is and how much you have, and we’ll tell you what it’s worth.
