According to 2025 international market data, scrap platinum prices vary significantly based on form and purity. Platinum slurry recycling prices are approximately $220,000 per kilogram ($220 per gram), equivalent to $220 million per ton or $6,230 per ounce. For high-purity platinum scrap, PT999 material commands a recovery price of $49.2 per gram, translating to $49,200 per kilogram or approximately $1,395 per ounce. Meanwhile, industrial-grade scrap platinum-rhodium wire starts at around $45.2 per gram ($330 per gram), equivalent to $45,200 per kilogram. These price variations for scrap platinum primarily depend on platinum content, impurity types, and recovery complexity.
For precise scrap platinum pricing, contact DONGSHEGN Precious Metals Recycling's procurement team (purchaser@dongshengjs.com).
Scrap platinum valuation requires consideration of specific application scenarios. Platinum group metals from automotive catalysts hold higher recovery value, while platinum paste from the electronics industry incurs relatively higher recovery costs due to complex processing requirements. Scrap platinum metal prices fluctuate daily in global markets, closely tracking actual platinum spot prices. They typically maintain 70%-90% of the spot price, with the exact ratio determined by scrap form and purification difficulty.
The table below lists the lowest and highest prices (USD/oz) for platinum group precious metals from 2015 to 2025:
| Year | Lowest Platinum Price | Highest Platinum Price | Lowest Palladium Price | Highest Palladium Price | Lowest Rhodium Price | Highest Rhodium Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 850 | 1,200 | 550 | 800 | 1,100 | 1,500 |
| 2016 | 810 | 1,150 | 520 | 780 | 1,000 | 1,450 |
| 2017 | 900 | 1,250 | 650 | 950 | 1,200 | 1,600 |
| 2018 | 750 | 1,100 | 700 | 1,200 | 1,400 | 2,000 |
| 2019 | 800 | 1,300 | 1,000 | 1,800 | 2,500 | 4,500 |
| 2020 | 600 | 1,200 | 1,500 | 2,800 | 4,000 | 14,000 |
| 2021 | 950 | 1,400 | 1,800 | 3,200 | 12,000 | 30,000 |
| 2022 | 850 | 1,300 | 1,600 | 3,400 | 14,000 | 21,000 |
| 2023 | 880 | 1,350 | 1,200 | 2,900 | 8,000 | 15,000 |
| 2024 | 900 | 1,400 | 1,100 | 2,500 | 5,000 | 12,000 |
| 2025 | 950 | 1,450 | 1,300 | 2,700 | 6,000 | 10,000 |
Over the past decade, scrap platinum prices have exhibited significant volatility influenced by multiple factors. During 2019-2021, rhodium prices surged abnormally, directly driving up the recycling value of rhodium-containing scrap. The 2020 pandemic caused global platinum prices to plummet to a cyclical low, leading to a sharp decline in scrap platinum prices. From 2022 to 2023, demand for platinum group metals grew alongside the automotive industry recovery and hydrogen energy development, gradually restoring scrap platinum prices. This volatility complicates the valuation of platinum scrap metals, requiring recyclers to closely monitor market dynamics to identify optimal transaction windows.
Industrial precious metal scrap coated with platinum group metals primarily originates from electrochemical and high-temperature applications. Titanium anodes (including MMO and DSA anodes) are often coated with precious metal catalysts like platinum, iridium, or ruthenium for use in chlor-alkali and water treatment industries. These anodes become high-value platinum scrap after reaching end-of-life. Titanium electrodes are extensively used in electrolytic industries. Their platinum group metal coatings significantly enhance electrolytic efficiency and electrode lifespan. The recycling value of these discarded electrodes primarily depends on the precious metal loading.
Nickel cathodes and nickel mesh electrodes in electrochemical industries often incorporate platinum group metal modification layers to enhance corrosion resistance and catalytic activity. The platinum scrap metal valuation for such waste requires consideration of separation costs between base metals and precious metals. High-temperature alloys, such as aircraft turbine blades, often feature platinum-rhodium alloy thermal barrier coatings on their surfaces to withstand extreme operating conditions. These aerospace waste materials possess exceptional recycling value due to their high-temperature resistance. The platinum group metal content in such industrial waste varies significantly—ranging from less than 1% in thin coatings to over 5% in thicker layers—directly impacting the valuation of platinum in the scrap.
Automotive three-way catalytic converters represent a major source for platinum group metal recovery. Utilizing platinum, palladium, and rhodium, these catalysts purify harmful substances in exhaust gases. Such catalysts account for a significant share of platinum group metal demand, with their scrap platinum prices closely tied to vehicle scrappage rates and the sophistication of recycling networks.
Among various industrial precious metal catalysts, iridium catalysts are primarily used in chemical processes like acetic acid production, while platinum catalysts are widely applied in petroleum refining and fertilizer manufacturing. Rhodium catalysts play an irreplaceable role in nitric acid production. The scrap generated from these industrial catalysts upon decommissioning serves as a stable support factor for platinum scrap metal prices. Medical catalysts, primarily used in drug synthesis and medical devices, demand extremely high purity, resulting in scrap platinum prices typically exceeding other categories.
Hydrogen production catalysts—including methanol-to-hydrogen and fuel cell catalysts—represent an emerging platinum application area. Platinum-based catalysts efficiently promote hydrogen generation and utilization. Catalysts in the chlor-alkali industry are primarily used for producing chlorine and caustic soda via salt electrolysis. Traditional DSA electrodes (shape-stable anodes) employ ternary ruthenium-iridium-platinum coatings, which exhibit outstanding electrocatalytic performance and stability. These catalysts exhibit diverse failure modes, including decreased activity, physical damage, or poisoning-induced deactivation, all of which influence the final valuation of waste platinum.
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