SMASH Recycling Morning Metals Report – April 21, 2026

Prices as of April 21, 2026 at 12:30 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 — $4,783/oz ▼
• Silver — $78.82/oz ▼
• PGMs — Rh ▸ $10,150 · Pt ▼ $2,081 · Pd ▲ $1,553
• Copper — $6.06/lb ▲
• Aluminum — $1.62/lb ▲
• Steel Scrap — $413.00/mt ▸
• Macro Backdrop
• CAD — USD/CAD 1.3660

SMASH Recycling Takeaways for Today

• Gold & Silver — Hold scrap lots as both dropped nearly 1% today; avoid selling until prices stabilize above support levels.
• PGMs — Sell palladium scrap now with its 0.39% gain while platinum fell 0.81%; rhodium stays flat so wait for breakout.
• Copper — Push copper scrap loads fast after 0.18% rise and tight supply signals; separate from other metals for max payout.
• Aluminum — Hold aluminum scrap despite tiny 0.25% uptick as broader demand stays soft and volatile.
• Big Picture — With 3 of 8 metals higher today, focus sales on winners like copper and palladium amid balanced but uncertain scrap trends.

Macro Backdrop — Energy and Risk

Brent Crude Oil: $90.83/bbl, down $3.82 (-4.04%) day-over-day.

**Macro Backdrop — Energy and Risk**

Brent crude oil fell to $90.83 per barrel. That's down $3.82, or 4%. Lower oil prices ease costs for scrap melting and transport. But Middle East tensions keep risks high—shipping threats in the Strait of Hormuz could push prices back up fast.

The dollar strengthened versus the Canadian dollar at 1.366. US 10-year yields dropped to 4.26%. Auto production fell to 102.63, a sign of weaker demand for scrap steel. Gold holds near $4,800 as a safe bet amid war fears. Watch for energy swings to hit scrap markets.

Gold — Safe-Haven Indicator

• Spot Gold (XAU): $4,783/oz, down $47.46 (-0.98%) day-over-day. Previous close: $4,830/oz.
• 5-day trend: ↓ 3 of last 5 sessions.

Gold spot price fell to $4,783 per ounce today, down $47 or 0.98% from yesterday. It dropped in 3 of the last 5 sessions, so scrap sellers may see lower payouts right now. With Brent crude oil down to $90.83 per barrel, hold scrap gold if you can and watch for a rebound.[1][2][3]

Silver — Industrial & Precious Hybrid

• Spot Silver (XAG): $78.82/oz, down $1.26 (-1.57%) day-over-day. Previous close: $80.07/oz.
• 5-day trend: ↓ 4 of last 5 sessions.
• Gold/Silver ratio: 60.7:1.

Silver spot price fell to **$78.82 per ounce**, down **$1.26** or **1.57%** today, with a drop in **4 of the last 5 sessions**. Scrap sellers face slower payouts from ongoing refining backlogs and high financing costs that crimp liquidity for junk silver and scrap[1][3][4]. Hold steady as strong industrial demand from solar and EVs keeps long-term support, even with Brent crude easing to **$90.83 per barrel**[1].

Precious Metals (PGM) — Screen Indicators

• Platinum (Pt): $2,081/oz, down $17.00 (-0.81%) day-over-day. Previous close: $2,098/oz. MoM: +8.2%.
• Platinum 5-day trend: ↓ 3 of last 5 sessions.
• Palladium (Pd): $1,553/oz, up +$6.00 (+0.39%) day-over-day. Previous close: $1,547/oz. MoM: +11.6%.
• Palladium 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.
• Rhodium (Rh): $10,150/oz, flat day-over-day. Previous close: $10,150/oz. MoM: -9.0%.
• Rhodium 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.

**PGM prices show mixed signals for scrap sellers today.** Platinum fell $17 to $2,081 per ounce, down 0.81%, while palladium rose $6 to $1,553 per ounce, up 0.39%, and rhodium stayed flat at $10,150 per ounce.[Data] Platinum dipped in 3 of the last 5 sessions, but palladium and rhodium climbed in 3 of them, so sellers should watch trends closely amid lower oil at $90.83 per barrel.[Data] Higher PGM prices are boosting recycling supply this year.[1][6]

Copper — Current Indicators

• COMEX/Spot Copper: $6.06/lb, up +$0.0110 (+0.18%) day-over-day. Previous close: $6.05/lb.
• 5-day trend: ↓ 3 of last 5 sessions.

**Copper** scrap prices sit at **$6.06 per pound**, up 1 cent or 0.18% today despite falling in 3 of the last 5 sessions.[8] With **Brent crude oil** down to **$90.83 per barrel**, energy costs may ease for scrap sellers, but tight supply and strong demand from green tech keep the market firm long-term.[1][2][5] Sellers should hold steady as experts see more upside ahead.[7]

Aluminum — Current Indicators

• LME Aluminum: $3,564/tonne ($1.62/lb), up +$0.0041 (+0.25%) day-over-day. Previous close: $1.61/lb.
• 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.

Aluminum scrap prices hit $1.62 per pound, up less than a cent or 0.25% from yesterday. The market rose in 3 of the last 5 days, showing steady gains even as **Brent crude oil** fell to $90.83 per barrel. Scrap sellers should sell now to lock in this upward trend.[1][6][7]

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 Recycling and let vetted Canadian buyers compete for your scrap.