Scrap Metal Prices in Katherine
Katherine is the largest town in the Northern Territory south of Darwin, serving defence (Tindal RAAF Base), pastoral, and mining customers across vast distances. Remoteness drives the lowest payout rates in the directory — yards must transport metal hundreds of kilometres before any further processing.
Current scrap metal prices in Katherine
Spot price equivalents adjusted for Katherine's regional rate (0.65×). Actual yard payouts apply the grade-specific payout rate on top — typically 12–78% of spot depending on grade.
| Metal | Sydney spot | Katherine equiv. | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | $17.88 | $11.62 | Grades & payouts → |
| Aluminium | $4.54 | $2.95 | Grades & payouts → |
| Brass | $13.46 | $8.75 | Grades & payouts → |
| Steel | $0.42 | $0.27 | Grades & payouts → |
| Stainless Steel | $2.33 | $1.52 | Grades & payouts → |
| Lead | $2.81 | $1.83 | Grades & payouts → |
| Zinc | $4.49 | $2.92 | Grades & payouts → |
| Nickel | $22.91 | $14.89 | Grades & payouts → |
How Katherine compares
Scrap yards in Katherine pay roughly 35% below the Sydney national benchmark (0.65× regional adjustment). Among Australian regional centres, rates here are closest to Alice Springs (0.72×). The lower payout reflects Katherine's distance from major smelters and ports — transport costs to processing facilities reduce what yards can pay sellers.
Other Northern Territory scrap markets
Yards across Northern Territory pay rates relative to their distance from major smelters and ports. Darwin is the state capital and typically has the most competitive rates in the state.
Popular items: what they're worth in Katherine
Estimated scrap value at Katherine yards. Assumes properly prepared material (oil drained, copper stripped from motors, refrigerant degassed where required).
Scrap yards in Katherine
We don't have any verified yards in Katherine yet — submit one to help build the directory. View directory page →
Frequently asked questions about scrap metal in Katherine
Where are the best scrap metal yards in Katherine? +
We're building a verified directory of Katherine scrap yards with hours, accepted metals, and seller reports. Until that's live, the practical approach is to call 2-3 yards in your area before transporting a load — published rates are useful guides but actual offers vary by day, load size, and material quality.
Why does Katherine pay less than Sydney for scrap metal? +
The 35% gap to Sydney reflects transport costs. Metal sold in Katherine eventually travels to a smelter or export port — typically via Darwin — and yards price the freight cost into their offer. Our regional adjustment is modelled from observed yard rates plus distance to processing facilities.
What's the highest-paying scrap metal in Katherine? +
Copper, by a wide margin. Clean bare-bright copper currently pays around $9.06 per kilogram in Katherine. Brass and aluminium follow, with steel paying the least per kilogram but compensating through volume — most ferrous loads are weighed on commercial weighbridges where small differences in rate matter less than tonnage.
Do Katherine scrap yards require photo ID? +
Yes for most non-ferrous metals and always for lead-acid batteries and catalytic converters. Northern Territory legislation requires yards to record seller identification on regulated transactions, primarily to deter metal theft. A driver's licence is the most commonly accepted form. Cash payments above certain thresholds may require additional documentation under state-specific regulations.
What other NT cities have scrap yards? +
Yes — Alice Springs, Darwin all have active scrap yards covered on this site. Darwin (the Northern Territory capital) generally has the most yards and most competitive rates in the territory.
When is the best time of week to bring a load to a Katherine yard? +
Tuesday through Thursday mornings generally produce the best experience. Yards are less crowded than Mondays (when weekend volume arrives), prices are stable mid-week, and weighbridge wait times are shorter. Many Katherine yards close early on weekends or operate reduced hours, so confirm opening times before transport.