Tungsten carbide scrap is worth far more per kilogram than steel, aluminium or even copper, and its price swings more. This guide explains what sets the price, shows dated reference points from published market reports, and says clearly what we could not find: a current Australian price list. We give no Australian price because we could not source one. It is general information, not an offer.
Why it is worth so much
Cutting tools, drill bits, inserts and wear parts are made of tungsten carbide, usually bonded with cobalt. Tungsten is a scarce metal, and recyclers recover it from scrap and turn it into intermediate products such as ammonium paratungstate (APT), which is the usual pricing reference for the tungsten market.
Hard scrap and soft scrap
The trade separates carbide into two forms. Hard scrap is inserts, blanks and wear parts. Soft scrap is powders and shavings. Argus reported in December 2022 that US processors had been paying up to US$1.50 to 2.00 a pound more for soft scrap than for hard scrap, because soft scrap goes more directly to chemical recovery, while hard scrap needs crushing, milling or zinc treatment first [1]. That was a US snapshot from 2022, and the premium may differ now, but it shows why separating soft from hard scrap matters.
Dated reference points, not Australian prices
Tungsten carbide scrap prices move with the tungsten market, which has been volatile. These are the most recent published points we could verify:
| Source and date | Scrap | Reported price |
|---|---|---|
| SMM, 5 March 2026, Europe | Scrap drill tips | EUR 95 to 105 a kilogram, average EUR 100, up 8% on 26 February [2] |
| SMM, 5 March 2026, Europe | Scrap carbide blades | EUR 97.5 a kilogram [2] |
| SMM, 5 March 2026, India (FOB) | Scrap drill tips | US$125 to 140 a kilogram [2] |
| SMM, 5 March 2026, India (FOB) | Scrap carbide blades | US$110 to 125 a kilogram [2] |
| Argus, end of November 2022, US | Scrap inserts | US$8.75 to 9.50 a pound (about US$19 to 21 a kilogram), down from a peak of US$12.50 to 13.00 in April 2022 [1] |
These are reference prices from market reports, mostly paid by processors for sorted material, for the dates shown. SMM says its data is for reference only. They are not what an Australian seller will be paid, because buyer margins, freight, grade and contamination all change the payout. Mining.com has reported record tungsten prices this year driven by Chinese export curbs and military demand, but we could not open the full article, so we do not quote its figures.
What moves your payout
- Form. Clean inserts and blanks are priced differently from mixed tools, and soft scrap is priced separately [1].
- Contamination. Steel shanks, brazing and coatings reduce the value of a lot. A buyer prices recoverable tungsten, so the more non-carbide material in the lot, the less you are paid.
- Quantity and consistency. Sorted, repeat supply is easier for a processor to price.
- The tungsten market on the day, which is volatile.
Selling carbide
- Sort by form, hard from soft, and by type where you can.
- Remove steel and other metals from tools where it is safe to do so.
- Weigh and photograph each lot.
- Get quotes from more than one buyer, because this material has a wide spread of offers.
For a step-by-step guide, see How to Sell Carbide Scrap: Tools and Inserts. If you sell as a business, the ATO's scrap code expects an ABN or the buyer withholds 47%, and in NSW and Victoria dealers cannot pay cash. See What If Every Scrap Trade Were on the Books?.
Selling it through ScrapTrade
Carbide is not one of the grades in the ScrapTrade Price Index, so there is no calculator estimate for it. A listing would need a clear description of form, condition and weight. ScrapTrade's How It Works page says sellers list with photos and pricing preferences, review buyer offers and accept one, and its Trust & Safety page says payment is held in escrow from the moment a deal is confirmed and released once pickup or delivery is confirmed. Create a free account to try it. ScrapTrade has a commercial interest in the scrap trade.
What we could not verify
- An Australian price for carbide scrap. We found none we trust.
- Current prices. The reference points are from March 2026 and 2022, and tungsten has moved since.
- How much of the price a recycler keeps. We found no published payout rule.
- Cobalt and other values. We did not research them.
Frequently asked questions
How much is tungsten carbide scrap worth per kg?
Market reports put sorted scrap drill tips at about EUR 100 a kilogram in Europe and US$125 to 140 FOB in India in March 2026 [2]. We found no sourced Australian price, and buyer quotes will differ.
Why is soft scrap worth more than hard scrap?
Processors prefer it because it goes straight to chemical recovery, while hard scrap needs crushing or other treatment first [1].
Why do carbide prices change so much?
They are tied to the tungsten market. Both reports we cite show sharp moves: US scrap inserts fell for eight months in 2022 [1], and European drill tips rose 8% in about a week in March 2026 [2].
Can I sell carbide to a scrap yard?
Some yards buy it and many do not, so ask. A marketplace listing lets several buyers quote.
Sources
- Argus Media, Viewpoint: WC soft-to-hard scrap premium to persist (29 December 2022).
- Shanghai Metals Market, Tungsten scrap prices rise in Europe and India (5 March 2026). Data is for reference only.
Prices are reference points from market reports, not Australian prices, offers or advice. ScrapTrade operates a scrap marketplace and has a commercial interest in the scrap trade.