SMASH Recycling Morning Metals Report – August 13, 2026

Prices as of August 13, 2026 at 07:31 AM CDT.

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.

Jump to:

• Gold — $4,384/oz ▼
• Silver — $64.89/oz ▼
• PGMs — Rh ▸ $8,725 · Pt ▼ $1,728 · Pd ▼ $1,318
• Copper — $6.59/lb ▼
• Aluminum — $1.49/lb ▼
• Steel Scrap — $413.00/mt ▸
• Macro Backdrop
• CAD — USD/CAD 1.3930

SMASH Recycling Takeaways for Today

• Gold & Silver — Prices are softer, so sell clean, high-grade lots first and hold marginal jewelry or mixed material if you can wait for a better bid.
• PGMs — Palladium is taking the biggest hit, platinum is down too, and rhodium is flat, so tighten converter grading and push for assay-backed bids before you move mixed cats.
• Copper — Copper is still strong enough to move, but the drop says buyers are getting pickier; strip wire, separate #1 from #2, and sell full loads, not scraps of loads.
• Aluminum — Aluminum is down again, so keep clips, extrusions, and other clean non-ferrous sorted tight and avoid dumping dirty or mixed aluminum at weak numbers.
• Big Picture — 0 of 8 metals higher today, 6 lower, and 2 flat, so this is a sell-clean, cut-noise market where bad grading gets punished.

Macro Backdrop — Energy and Risk

Brent Crude Oil: $87.36/bbl, down $1.12 (-1.27%) day-over-day.

US Dollar Index (DXY): 99.94, up 0.13 (+0.13%) day-over-day.

**Energy is softer this morning.** Brent is down to **$87.36** a barrel, and the dollar is a bit firmer with **DXY at 99.94**. A stronger dollar can lean on metals and make exports less friendly.

Rates are still heavy, but not rising fast. The **10Y yield is 4.70%**, inflation expectations are **2.26%**, and the **Fed rate sits at 3.63%**. That keeps real rates positive and risk appetite guarded. For scrap, that means buyers stay cautious, and price moves can get choppy fast.

Gold — Safe-Haven Indicator

• Spot Gold (XAU): $4,384/oz, down $16.20 (-0.37%) day-over-day. Previous close: $4,400/oz.
• 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.

**Gold is still expensive, but the tape is softer today.** Spot gold is at **$4,384/oz**, down **$16.20** and off **0.37%**, even though it has been higher in **3 of the last 5 sessions**.[1] With **Brent at $87.36** and the dollar a bit firmer, scrap sellers should expect a choppy bid, so clean lots and solid docs matter more than ever.[1]

Silver — Industrial & Precious Hybrid

• Spot Silver (XAG): $64.89/oz, down $0.2610 (-0.40%) day-over-day. Previous close: $65.15/oz.
• 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.
• Gold/Silver ratio: 67.6:1.

**Silver is softer today at $64.89 an ounce, down 26 cents, but the bigger picture is still mixed.** The metal has held up in 3 of the last 5 sessions, and the gold-silver ratio at 67.6:1 says silver is still trading cheap versus gold. For scrap sellers and recyclers, this is a wait-and-watch market, with energy softer and the dollar firmer, so price spikes may not stick.

Precious Metals (PGM) — Screen Indicators

• Platinum (Pt): $1,728/oz, down $15.00 (-0.86%) day-over-day. Previous close: $1,743/oz. MoM: +6.4%.
• Platinum 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.
• Palladium (Pd): $1,318/oz, down $30.00 (-2.23%) day-over-day. Previous close: $1,348/oz. MoM: +2.7%.
• Palladium 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.
• Rhodium (Rh): $8,725/oz, flat day-over-day. Previous close: $8,725/oz. MoM: +7.7%.
• Rhodium 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.

**PGM prices are softer today, and that matters for scrap sellers.** Platinum is at **$1,728/oz** and palladium is at **$1,318/oz**, both lower on the day, while rhodium is flat at **$8,725/oz**; with a firmer dollar and weaker energy tone, the market is not giving sellers much help right now.[2] The short-term trend is still mixed, since all three metals have been up in **3 of the last 5 sessions**, but this looks more like a choppy market than a clean rally.[2][5]

Copper — Current Indicators

• COMEX/Spot Copper: $6.59/lb, down $0.0145 (-0.22%) day-over-day. Previous close: $6.61/lb.
• 5-day trend: ↓ 3 of last 5 sessions.

**Copper is softer today, and that matters if you’re sitting on clean wire or pipe.** Price is at **$6.59/lb**, down about **1 cent**, and the 5-day trend is weak with **3 of the last 5 sessions lower**. With Brent softer and the dollar firmer, scrap sellers should keep grades clean and shop the load.

Aluminum — Current Indicators

• LME Aluminum: $3,280/tonne ($1.49/lb), down $0.0119 (-0.79%) day-over-day. Previous close: $1.50/lb.
• 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.

**Aluminum is under a little pressure today at $1.49/lb, down about 1 cent.** The trend is still choppy, though, with prices up in 3 of the last 5 sessions, so sellers should watch the next move closely. Energy is softer and the dollar is firmer, which can weigh on metals.

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.