SMASH Recycling Morning Metals Report – May 8, 2026
Prices as of May 08, 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.
All tracked metals are higher today.
Jump to:
- Gold — $4,713/oz ▲
- Silver — $80.52/oz ▲
- PGMs — Rh ▸ $9,950 · Pt ▲ $2,033 · Pd ▲ $1,475
- Copper — $6.28/lb ▲
- Aluminum — $1.59/lb ▲
- Steel Scrap — $413.00/mt ▸
- Macro Backdrop
- CAD — USD/CAD 1.3635
SMASH Recycling Takeaways for Today
- Gold & Silver — Sell scrap gold at $4,713/oz (+$23) and silver at $80.52/oz (+$2) now as both hit fresh highs with strong momentum.
- PGMs — Sell palladium scrap and cats at $1,475/oz (+$16) and platinum at $2,033/oz (+$18); hold rhodium flat at $9,950/oz for a bounce.
- Copper — Ship copper scrap fast at $6.28/lb (+15¢) on this sharp 2.5% jump from industrial demand.
- Aluminum — Move aluminum scrap today at $1.59/lb (+1¢) before summer construction peaks lift it higher.
- Big Picture — With 6 of 8 metals higher today, list all scrap now to catch the broad bull run.
Macro Backdrop — Energy and Risk
Brent Crude Oil: $100.38/bbl, down $2.42 (-2.35%) day-over-day.
**Macro Backdrop — Energy and Risk** **Brent Crude Oil:** $100.38/bbl, down $2.42 (-2.35%) day-over-day. Oil fell today on hopes for a U.S.-Iran deal easing Middle East tensions. This drop cuts diesel costs for scrap haulers from Detroit to Houston. It helps yard margins after weeks of high energy prices. The 10-year Treasury yield eased to 4.36%, while inflation views ticked up to 2.45%. Fed rate holds steady at 3.64%.
USD/CAD sits at 1.3635, steady for cross-border scrap flows. World Bank sees metals prices rising this year on energy shocks. Auto output dipped to 102.63, pressuring car scrap supply. Silver hit $80 on supply tightness, but North American scrap prices mostly fell today. Lower oil aids transport but watch demand risks ahead.
Gold — Safe-Haven Indicator
- Spot Gold (XAU): $4,713/oz, up +$23.57 (+0.50%) day-over-day. Previous close: $4,689/oz.
- 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.
Gold hit $4,713 per ounce today, up $23.57 or 0.50% from yesterday. It's climbed in 3 of the last 5 sessions as high prices from economic worries boost scrap recycling profits. Scrap sellers should sell now before any pullback, with the market eyeing $21-23 billion in growth by 2028-2030.
Silver — Industrial & Precious Hybrid
- Spot Silver (XAG): $80.52/oz, up +$2.07 (+2.64%) day-over-day. Previous close: $78.45/oz.
- 5-day trend: ↑ 4 of last 5 sessions.
- Gold/Silver ratio: 58.5:1.
Silver spot prices hit $80.52 per ounce today, up $2.07 or 2.64% from yesterday, with gains in 4 of the last 5 days. Scrap sellers and recyclers should sell now before a possible pullback, as spot prices set the base value for sterling at about $78 per ounce and fine silver near $80—refiner shortages are tight but industrial demand is pushing values higher fast. With oil easing on Middle East peace hopes, expect more scrap to flow in soon.
Precious Metals (PGM) — Screen Indicators
- Platinum (Pt): $2,033/oz, up +$18.00 (+0.89%) day-over-day. Previous close: $2,015/oz. MoM: +0.2%.
- Platinum 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.
- Palladium (Pd): $1,475/oz, up +$16.00 (+1.10%) day-over-day. Previous close: $1,459/oz. MoM: -4.5%.
- Palladium 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.
- Rhodium (Rh): $9,950/oz, flat day-over-day. Previous close: $9,950/oz. MoM: -2.5%.
- Rhodium 5-day trend: ↓ 1 of last 5 sessions.
Platinum group metal prices are moving higher today, with platinum up to $2,033 per ounce and palladium climbing to $1,475 per ounce. This price strength comes as easing Middle East tensions help calm markets overall, and stronger recycling economics are bringing more scrap material back into the supply chain. Scrap sellers should take advantage of these improved prices now, especially with palladium recycling still ramping up after years of lower incentives.
Copper — Current Indicators
- COMEX/Spot Copper: $6.28/lb, up +$0.1510 (+2.46%) day-over-day. Previous close: $6.13/lb.
- 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.
Copper hit $6.28 per pound today, up 15 cents or 2.46% from yesterday. This strong gain builds on the recent climb past $6, fueled by tight supply from tariffs and big demand in U.S. factories and building projects. Scrap sellers should cash in now while prices stay high, even as cheaper oil at $100.38 a barrel eases some costs.
Aluminum — Current Indicators
- LME Aluminum: $3,516/tonne ($1.59/lb), up +$0.0147 (+0.93%) day-over-day. Previous close: $1.58/lb.
- 5-day trend: → flat over last 5 sessions.
Aluminum scrap holds steady at $1.59 per pound, up about 1 cent or 0.93% today after staying flat over the last 5 days. Cheaper oil at $100.38 per barrel from easing Middle East tensions may soon boost scrap flows to yards. Sellers, hold clean loads for a possible rebound from summer building demand.
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.
