Precious metal ash and scrap trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in precious metal ash and scrap was worth $1.55 billion in 2024, about 25.6 thousand tonnes. That is an increase of 15% since 2017, and up 6% on 2023.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
World trade by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1.55B | 25.6K t |
| 2023 | $1.46B | 44.0K t |
| 2022 | $2.28B | 17.1K t |
| 2021 | $3.76B | 48.5K t |
| 2020 | $1.40B | 22.4K t |
| 2019 | $2.41B | 45.6K t |
| 2018 | $1.07B | 21.4K t |
| 2017 | $1.35B | 23.4K t |
Top precious metal ash and scrap exporting countries
Belgium is the largest exporter with 35% of world exports, followed by the Czech Republic and France. The top three supply 58% between them, out of 59 exporting countries.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | $538.1M | 35% |
| Czech Republic | $236.3M | 15% |
| France | $131.7M | 8.5% |
| Switzerland | $114.3M | 7.4% |
| Germany | $103.8M | 6.7% |
| Spain | $60.4M | 3.9% |
| Poland | $59.0M | 3.8% |
| Italy | $39.8M | 2.6% |
| Canada | $36.4M | 2.4% |
| Singapore | $29.2M | 1.9% |
| United Kingdom | $25.7M | 1.7% |
| United States | $23.9M | 1.5% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
Italy is the biggest buyer with 50% of world imports, ahead of Japan and Germany. Demand is concentrated: the top three take 76% across 48 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | $769.8M | 50% |
| Japan | $262.1M | 17% |
| Germany | $151.0M | 9.7% |
| United Kingdom | $129.6M | 8.4% |
| Czech Republic | $94.1M | 6.1% |
| Belgium | $38.4M | 2.5% |
| Finland | $27.7M | 1.8% |
| South Korea | $21.6M | 1.4% |
| Switzerland | $15.1M | 1% |
| Sweden | $12.8M | 0.8% |
| United States | $10.3M | 0.7% |
| Canada | $6.5M | 0.4% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $60.58 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Switzerland averaged $295.06 per kg and France $24.41 per kg, so grade and origin matter.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments worldwide. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Related product types
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
The shipment records behind Precious metal ash and scrap (HS 7112.30) importers and exporters, worldwide: companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 7112.30: Waste and scrap of precious metal or of metal clad with precious metal: ash containing precious metal or precious metal compounds. HS 7112 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most precious metal ash and scrap?
Belgium exported $538.1 million in 2024, 35% of the world total, followed by the Czech Republic (15%) and France (8%). In all, 59 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most precious metal ash and scrap?
Italy imported $769.8 million in 2024, 50% of world imports, ahead of Japan (17%) and Germany (10%). The top three importers together take 76%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in precious metal ash and scrap?
It was worth $1.55 billion in 2024, about 25.6 thousand tonnes. That is an increase of 15% since 2017. The peak year was 2021 at $3.76 billion. 59 countries reported exports and 48 reported imports.
What is the average price of precious metal ash and scrap per kg?
The world average declared value was about $60.58 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Switzerland averaged $295.06 per kg and France $24.41 per kg, so grade and origin matter. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so treat it as a benchmark, not a quote.
What is the HS code for precious metal ash and scrap?
The HS code for precious metal ash and scrap is subheading 7112.30, in chapter 71 (natural, cultured pearls; precious, semi-precious stones; precious metals, metals clad with precious metal, and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 7112 page.
How can I find precious metal ash and scrap buyers and suppliers?
Company names sit below these country totals: EximDataX reads the customs records shipment by shipment, with dates and values. We can show precious metal ash and scrap buyers and suppliers on a short call.
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.