Scrap Steel Prices in Alice Springs
Scrap steel in Alice Springs currently pays from $0.04 per kilogram for light steel up to $0.05 for heavy melting steel (hms). Alice Springs is a regional centre in Northern Territory, with rates set by transport distance to the nearest capital and smelter network.
Steel grades and payouts in Alice Springs (per kg)
Estimated yard payouts for each grade, based on the current LME spot ($0.42/kg) and Alice Springs's 0.72× regional adjustment. Actual offers vary by yard, load size, and material quality.
| Grade | Payout rate | Est. mid (AUD/kg) | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Melting Steel (HMS) Steel at least 6mm thick. Standard ferrous grade for export markets. | 18% | $0.05 | $0.05 – $0.06 |
| Light Steel Thinner sheet steel, appliance cabinets, light gauge profiles. | 12% | $0.04 | $0.03 – $0.04 |
Price history
Local Alice Springs prices track the national steel series — multiply by 0.72 for Alice Springs equivalents. View the full 30-day chart on the national steel page.
Where these numbers come from
| Figure | Value | Source | Type | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel spot price | A$0.42/kg | Fixed site estimate of A$0.42/kg | Fixed estimate, not a market feed | |
| Alice Springs regional factor | 0.72× | Our model (freight distance and yard rate differences) | Our estimate | |
| Steel grade payout rates | 18% / 12% | Our estimate from published yard rate cards | Our estimate |
Spot prices are converted to Australian dollars per kilogram. Yard payouts are our estimates (spot × grade payout rate × regional factor), not quotes from any yard. Set when the site launched on 2026-05-16 and not updated since. No live steel scrap price feed is used. Full detail: methodology.
Steel in Alice Springs
Alice Springs is the most isolated major scrap market in Australia. Long-haul freight to Adelaide or Darwin makes large yard payouts hard to sustain — most non-ferrous metal accumulates locally until shipment economics work.
As a regional centre, Alice Springs's steel flow comes primarily from residential renovations, local trade work, and rural property clearances. Yards in Alice Springs consolidate volume for shipment to processing facilities in larger centres.
Scrap yards in Alice Springs that buy steel
1 scrap yard listed in the Alice Springs area. Browse all yards in Alice Springs →
Frequently asked questions
What's the current price for scrap steel in Alice Springs? +
Today's estimated payouts in Alice Springs range from $0.04 per kilogram (light steel) up to $0.05 (heavy melting steel (hms)). Prices update daily and reflect Alice Springs's 0.72× regional adjustment from the Sydney benchmark. See the grades table above for all payouts.
Where can I sell scrap steel in Alice Springs? +
Check the Alice Springs yard directory for addresses and phone numbers, then call 2-3 yards before transport. Most Alice Springs yards accept steel in all common grades, though smaller yards may have minimum weight requirements. For larger loads, also consider yards in Darwin.
Why does Alice Springs pay 28% less than Sydney for steel? +
Transport cost. Steel sold in Alice Springs eventually travels to a smelter or export port — typically via Darwin — and yards price the freight cost into their offer. The 0.72× regional adjustment models this transport drag based on observed yard rates and distance to processing facilities.
How is steel graded at Alice Springs yards? +
Alice Springs yards use the same grading system as the rest of Australia: Heavy Melting Steel (HMS), Light Steel. The grade depends on cleanliness, alloy purity, and contamination. See our complete <a href="/metals/steel/">Steel grading guide</a> for what each grade means, examples, and how to identify it.
Do Alice Springs scrap yards require photo ID? +
For goods covered by the Act (such as gold and silver), section 277 requires the dealer to record the seller's full name and residential address and verify identity with a passport (current or expired less than 24 months), a photo driver licence, or other prescribed means. For ordinary scrap metal there is no statutory ID requirement in the Act or Regulations, although yards may still ask for ID. (No scrap-specific Act. Part 14 of the Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Act 1990 licenses second-hand dealers; last checked 2026-09-02.)
Can I be paid cash for scrap metal in Alice Springs? +
No cash ban was found in the Act or Regulations. (Last checked 2026-09-02.)
Is it worth driving from Alice Springs to a bigger city for higher steel rates? +
Generally no, unless you have a very large load. Fuel costs from Alice Springs to Darwin quickly eat the rate difference, especially for a single residential load. The exception is high-value loads of clean copper or brass — for loads above a few hundred kilograms of clean material, the maths can work out. For everything else, consolidate locally and accept the 0.72× rate.