Copper on top: which metals are profitable to sell for scrap in 2025.

Ukrainians actively sell scrap metal to earn extra money. Some raw materials are accepted at high prices due to increased demand. Some constructions are worth little and almost do not bring income. The third category includes prohibited items that will not be accepted at the reception point even for free.

What is best to sell for scrap

Non-ferrous metals are expensive, but they are hard to find at home. The most profitable raw material in terms of time spent and financial return is copper. It can bring from 300 UAH/kg on average, depending on its external condition, impurities, and season.

Since metal is used in many industries (industry, electrical engineering, construction, medicine, etc.), there is steady demand throughout the year. It is better to collect copper in spring and summer when market prices drop, and sell the collection in late autumn and winter. This way, maximum profit from scrap sales can be achieved.

According to information from the specialized portal Dailygalaxy, experts from the International Energy Agency are confident in the increase in demand for copper: by 2040, the demand for the non-ferrous metal may increase by 50%.

Which metal is unprofitable to sell

A lot of work for insignificant profit is a characteristic of scrap metal. It is always accepted everywhere, but they pay miserable sums for a kilogram of constructions. As of August 2025, the average price of ferrous metals (iron, steel, and cast iron) is at the level of 4-6 UAH/kg.

It is also unprofitable to sell galvanized steel. It is accepted for 2-4 UAH/kg, although it is used for making nuts, bolts, screws, and nails due to its resistance to weathering. Only large volumes of scrap - from a ton - are worth proposing to enterprises.

What they will not take even for free

Certain metal constructions will not be sold at all, as no reception point will buy them. Even for free, you will not be able to get rid of:

• railway tracks;
• monuments;
• grave plaques;
• municipal and city property;
• elements of someone else's private property;
• hermetically sealed tanks with unknown substances;
• toxic products;
• structures with increased radiation background;
• ammunition and weapons;
• items of cultural/historical value.

Such items are prohibited from being sold for scrap. The Criminal Code even includes articles 185 and 194, which establish liability for theft and intentional damage to someone else's property (metal). This is punishable by a fine of 17,000 to 51,000 UAH. In certain cases - imprisonment.

What else Ukrainians should know

We remind you that prices for non-ferrous metals depend on the season. In summer, prices traditionally drop as demand weakens. To obtain the highest profit, it is better to collect constructions in warm weather, and sell them in winter when prices rise.

We also wrote that rhodium is a rare metal from the platinum group that is mined mainly in South Africa, Canada, and partially in Russia. The main reserves are concentrated in the Republic of South Africa, which accounts for 80% of the world's production.

Ukrainians find ways to earn extra money by selling scrap metal. Copper is the most advantageous material for recycling, as a good profit can be obtained per kilogram. However, some metal constructions, such as railway tracks or toxic products, are prohibited from being sold for scrap, and illegal trading in them can result in punishment under the law.