Precious Metal Scrap Prices: Weekly Market Report (March 13-19, 2026)
Weekly Metal Price Report | 2026-03-20 08:00:47
Lower-purity 9-carat material also moved lower, registering a 5.07% week-on-week drop.
By Paul Ploumis
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): North American precious metals scrap prices—covering gold, silver, and platinum in both hallmarked and non-hallmarked categories—registered modest declines on the ScrapMonster Price Index during the week of March 13-19, 2026.
Hallmarked Precious Metals Market
Hallmarked scrap gold prices recorded a strong week-on-week decline. The current dip is not due to one factor, but a combination of several factors including stronger U.S. dollar, higher interest rates, profit booking after recent rally, shift towards dollar as safe haven, as well as rising oil prices and inflation dynamics, as reflected on the ScrapMonster Price Index. Broad-based dips were observed across multiple purity grades.
Fourteen-carat scrap gold prices slipped by $146.87 per ounce, mirroring broader weakness in the bullion market. Likewise, eighteen-carat scrap prices fell by $188.29 per ounce during the period, pressured by muted trading activity and weaker buying sentiment.
On a week-over-week basis, 22-carat scrap gold registered a decline of $229.96 per pound, pressured by short term cyclical factors, not necessarily a long-term bearish trend. The accompanying chart illustrates the weekly price trend for 22-carat hallmarked gold.
Lower-purity grades tracked the downward trajectory, with 9-carat scrap gold falling approximately 5.07% compared to the previous week.
Within the broader precious metals scrap complex, silver recorded a pronounced decline of 9.69%, closing at $59.21 per ounce. Platinum prices also trended downward, registering a 3.91% week-on-week decline on the Index, indicating weakening momentum in the precious metals recycling market.
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Non-Hallmarked Precious Metals Market
Scrap gold prices retreated across major purity segments during the week, in line with softer bullion-market fundamentals. Fourteen-carat scrap prices decreased by $138.87 per ounce, while 18-carat and 22-carat grades recorded declines of $178.04 and $217.45 per ounce, respectively. Lower-purity 9-carat material also moved lower, registering a 5.07% week-on-week drop.
Platinum scrap emerged as one of the weaker performers, posting a 3.91% decline to settle at $1,506.37 per ounce by the close of the week, as indicated in the accompanying chart.
Silver scrap prices recorded a steep 9.69% weekly fall, pressured by weaker international silver benchmarks, weak industrial demand, increased scrap supply and ongoing volatility in solar sector demand.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What was the overall trend in North American precious metals scrap prices?
Prices declined across gold, silver, and platinum in both hallmarked and non-hallmarked categories during the week.
- Why did hallmarked scrap gold prices fall?
The decline was driven by multiple factors including a stronger U.S. dollar, higher interest rates, profit booking, and shifting investor preference toward cash.
- Which metal recorded the biggest decline?
Silver saw the steepest drop, falling 9.69% due to weak industrial demand and increased scrap supply.
