North American Precious Metal Scrap Prices: Gold and Platinum Advance, Silver Declines (Aug 14–20, 2026)

Gold and platinum scrap values strengthened across hallmarked and non-hallmarked grades in North America from August 14 to 20, 2026, while silver scrap prices fell on the ScrapMonster Price Index.

Market Overview: Mixed but Gold-Led Strength

North American precious metal scrap prices generally strengthened from August 14 to 20, 2026. Gold and platinum values rose across both hallmarked and non-hallmarked grades, while silver scrap prices declined on the ScrapMonster Price Index.

The weekly trend points to a shift in precious-metals demand toward gold and platinum rather than a broad-based precious-metals rally. Investors and buyers favored safe-haven and supply-supported metals, while silver faced weaker industrial-demand sentiment.

Hallmarked Precious Metals Market

In the North American market, hallmarked gold prices rose last week, tracking a sharp increase in benchmark U.S. gold prices. The rally was supported by a weaker U.S. dollar and reduced expectations of further Federal Reserve rate hikes, following softer U.S. retail-sales data and renewed expectations of easier monetary policy.

The move accelerated after the U.S. Treasury announced expanded buybacks of longer-dated government debt, as reflected in the ScrapMonster Price Index.

Against this backdrop, 14K, 18K, 22K and 9K gold prices moved higher during the week, reflecting the broad strength in the North American precious-metals market rather than a purely grade-specific improvement.

Fourteen-carat scrap gold prices advanced by $49.51 per ounce over the week, supported by the broader strengthening in the gold market. The 18-carat grade posted a stronger gain of $63.48 per ounce, reflecting continued upward momentum across the segment.

Meanwhile, 22-carat hallmarked gold climbed by $77.52 per pound, with higher-purity material recording notable appreciation during the week. The chart below illustrates the weekly movement in 22-carat hallmarked gold prices.

The positive trend also extended to lower-purity grades, with 9-carat scrap gold rising approximately 2.01% week on week.

The broader precious metals scrap market witnessed a mixed trend. Silver scrap prices fell 2.45% from a starting level of $48.93 per ounce, while platinum advanced 1.25% over the week.

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Non-Hallmarked Precious Metals Market

Gold scrap prices moved higher across the main purity categories during the week, supported by steady buying interest and favorable market conditions. Fourteen-carat scrap recorded a weekly increase of $46.81 per ounce, while 18-carat and 22-carat grades gained $60.02 and $73.30 per ounce, respectively. The 9-carat segment also maintained the upward trend, posting a 2.01% week-on-week rise.

Silver scrap prices saw a decline, falling 2.47% over the week. The metal lost $1.16 per ounce from the previous week's opening price of $46.98 per ounce, as shown in the accompanying chart.

Meanwhile, platinum scrap prices increased, registering a 1.25% weekly increase.

The rise in non-hallmarked gold and platinum alongside falling hallmarked silver points to selective investor demand, with stronger safe-haven and supply-driven support for gold and platinum while silver faces weaker industrial-demand sentiment.

Courtesy: Scrap Monster