Metal quotations on the London Metal Exchange (LME) are the most frequently cited point of reference for the entire industry. You can see them in the media, in apps and on our quotations page. It is tempting to apply them directly to the value of your own material — "if a tonne of copper costs this much, then I should get the same for my scrap". That, however, is not how it works. This article shows what really connects an exchange quotation with the buying price, and why we treat quotations as a point of reference, not a price list.
What an LME quotation is
The LME is an exchange on which contracts are traded for metals of strictly defined purity — for example, Grade A copper with a content of 99.99%. A quotation therefore describes a reference commodity in a form suited to exchange trading: homogeneous, remelted and of guaranteed composition.
The scrap that arrives at a branch is something different. It is material that comes from production or dismantling — with contaminants, in various grades and of variable quality. Between the one and the other lies a path that costs money.
What separates a quotation from the buying price
Grade and purity
A quotation applies to metal of high, guaranteed purity. Material from scrap buying almost never is — cable copper differs from Millberry, and aluminium from profiles differs from cast or radiator aluminium. The further a grade departs from the reference commodity, the greater the difference between the quotation and the rate.
Quality and contaminants
The same grade name can conceal very different material. Admixtures of other metals, lacquer, insulation, moisture or steel elements reduce the yield of pure metal per tonne. That is why we price atypical material after spectrometric analysis — a handheld spectrometer is in use at every branch and lets us pay for the actual composition rather than "by eye".
Quantity and logistics
The scale of a delivery affects the cost of handling it. A regular, homogeneous stream of material is processed more cheaply than small, mixed batches. For larger volumes we can take on transport and collection logistics ourselves when needed.
Processing cost and resale margin
Before the metal reaches a smelter, it has to be collected, sorted, graded and delivered. We sell to smelters and foundries in Europe and the Far East — a shorter resale chain means a higher rate for the supplier than when reselling through intermediaries.
Why we do not publish a price list
The price for a specific material depends on too many variables to close it honestly in a table: grade, quality, quantity and current quotations change from delivery to delivery. A fixed price list would either be misleading or would have to assume the worst-case scenario. Instead, we provide indicative quotations with a date and price each material individually.
How to read quotations in practice
Quotations are an excellent indicator of the trend: they show whether the market for a given metal is rising or falling, and let you choose a good moment to sell. Treat them like a compass, not a price tag. You will learn the specific rate for your material fastest by sending photos and a basic description for a quote.
Exchange quotations are a point of reference — the final price depends on grade, quantity and quality. Have material to price? Check the rate with no obligation.