Hastelloy Scrap Price Per Pound

As of mid-2025, clean Hastelloy scrap typically trades in the USD $2.00–$6.00 per pound range for mixed scrap types (turnings, shavings, solids), while merchant / finished product (bars, plate) values and new-material prices are far higher (finished C-22/C-276 commonly quoted in the tens–hundreds USD/kg or tens of USD per lb). Scrap values are driven mainly by nickel and molybdenum commodity movements, alloy purity, preparation (clean vs contaminated), and regional demand — and the global nickel oversupply since 2023–2024 has pushed downward pressure on scrap recovery values.

What “Hastelloy” means for recyclers (grades & scrap types)

“Hastelloy” is a tradename family (Haynes/Hastelloy®) that refers to high-nickel, corrosion-resistant alloys used in chemical, pollution control, and high-corrosion industrial applications. Common commercial grades encountered in scrap streams are C-276 (UNS N10276) and C-22 (UNS N06022); both are nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloys with added tungsten (C-276) or tungsten + controlled iron (C-22), and they contain significant nickel and expensive alloying elements (molybdenum, tungsten, chromium). Typical scrap forms: solids (plate, valve bodies), turnings/shavings, small components, and finished bar/rod piecework. Technical datasheets and manufacturer documents show these alloys’ chemistry and performance (weldability, corrosion resistance).

Why that matters to price: the higher the proportion of recoverable nickel and molybdenum in a lot, and the cleaner the material (free of oil, other metals, contamination), the higher the scrap payout. Many yards quote different rates for “Hastelloy solids” vs “turnings” vs “shavings.”

Scrap vs merchant (new / mill) pricing

It helps to think in three price tiers:

• Scrap / recycling value (lowest): material sold to metal recyclers and smelters for reclamation. Examples: Hastelloy turnings, shavings, mixed solids. Typical mid-2025 yard quotes fall in low single-digit USD per lb for many scrap types.

• Merchant / mill finished price (middle/higher): mill-processed products (bars, plates, annealed sheet) sold by specialty alloy mills and distributors — often priced per kg or per lb much higher than scrap because of fabrication value. Recent market information shows finished Hastelloy/C-22 trading in the multiple-tens USD per kg range (converted to per lb this is substantially greater than scrap).

• New wrought / high-value product price (highest): new, certified material for critical service (pressure equipment, chemical plants) — includes certification, traceability, and premium alloy surcharge; prices vary widely by specific form and order size. Manufacturer alloy surcharge reports and technical bulletins are used to compute these.

Market snapshot 2025 regional table

Note: the table below separates scrap yard (recycling) quotes from finished product market references. All figures are market snapshots and depend on lot/quality and region; they should be treated as indicative ranges. Sources: public scrap yard listings, distributor market posts, MWAlloys internal pricing signals.

Practical interpretation: a clean block of Hastelloy with certification will command a much higher offer than mixed turnings. Yards often pay on assay or apply representative discounts.

Past five-year price context (2020–2024)

It’s tempting to present a neat historical scrap line for Hastelloy, but scrap pricing is patchwork — local yard quotes, periodic dealer bulletins, and commodity (nickel, Mo) prices drive that patchwork. A more robust metric to interpret scrap is the underlying nickel/molybdenum LME/commodity trend, because these elements make up most of the alloy’s recoverable value.

Nickel benchmark (representative) — year-end / average trend (USD/tonne), 2020–2024: LME nickel rose in 2020–2022, peaked in 2022, then corrected in 2023–2024 with structural changes to supply. This LME movement translated into higher alloy scrap values in 2021–2022, and downward pressure during 2023–2024. Reuters and exchange data summarize these swings.

Simplified 2020–2024 summary table

Method: below we show a compact view: (A) LME nickel indicative price trend and (B) representative Hastelloy scrap range observed in public dealer/scrap postings that correspond to those years. These ranges are illustrative and reflect many local variations.

Sources & caveats: these representative numbers are synthesized from commodity price reporting and public scrap yard quote snapshots: when nickel spiked in 2022, specialty alloy scrap often rose substantially; when nickel softened in 2023–2024, scrap payouts declined. Use commodity data (LME/TradingEconomics) as leading indicators for alloy scrap pricing.

Key drivers that determine Hastelloy scrap value

Below are the primary value drivers, each with a short explanation and practical example.

1. Nickel price / LME trend — Nickel is the dominant value metal in Hastelloy; LME moves are a first-order driver. When nickel weakens, scrap payouts fall; when it rallies, reclaimers pay more.

2. Molybdenum & tungsten prices — these alloying elements carry recovery premiums; lots rich in Mo/W are more valuable.

3. Alloy purity and mix — certified C-276 or C-22 with paperwork will beat mixed unidentified lots. Shavings containing oils or other metals drop the offer. Rockaway/iScrap categories show distinct payouts for solids vs shavings.

4. Form factor (solids vs turnings vs shavings) — solids are simpler to reclaim; turnings/shavings often need additional processing and therefore attract discounts.

5. Regional demand and smelter logistics — nearby refineries/smelters with demand for nickel alloy feedstock can lift local prices; trade tariffs, freight and import rules change landed costs.

6. Alloy surcharge & mill adjustments — mills publish alloy surcharges that affect merchant pricing — helpful when converting finished prices vs scrap recovery.

7. Regulatory and environmental factors — restrictions on export or stricter scrap handling increase costs and may reduce net payouts.

How recyclers, smelters and brokers grade Hastelloy lots

Typical workflow and assessment steps:

• Visual separation & cleaning: remove contamination (adhesives, plastics), segregate non-metallics. Clean lots command higher bids.

• Identification: stamp/heat code/part number and, where missing, handheld XRF is commonly used to verify alloy family (Ni-based vs Inconel vs Monel). XRF readings help classify as C-22/C-276 or other nickel alloys.

• Assay / lab testing: for large lots or high-value bundles buyers may request chemical assay to determine pay elements (Ni, Mo, W).

• Form factor discounting: shavings/turnings often priced as “Hastelloy turnings” at a lower rate than “Hastelloy solids.” Public yard categories demonstrate these distinct price lines.

Tip: insist on XRF verification and provide clear documentation when selling — this materially improves offers from serious buyers.

Practical selling tips to maximize payout

• Sort and remove contamination (oils, wood, insulation, other metals). Clean is worth a premium.

• Bundle and label suspected alloy grades; lot traceability reduces buyer risk.

• Get multiple quotes from recyclers, brokers, and specialty alloy buyers. Different buyers pay different formulas (assay vs fixed).

• Pre-assay large loads if possible — many buyers will pay more if the chemical assay proves higher recoverable metal content.

• Consider direct export to specialist refiners if volumes are large; often they pay a better net price than local general scrap yards. MWAlloys can advise on logistics and buyers in China and South-East Asia (see note below).

MWAlloys and China supplier advantage

As a specialist alloy merchant and processor, MWAlloys provides two commercial pathways that improve value for sellers and procurement customers:

1. Factory (direct) pricing for finished Hastelloy products: If the buyer needs merchant/hot-worked material (bar, plate, sheet), MWAlloys sources factory lots from Chinese mills and can offer competitive ex-factory pricing thanks to integrated sourcing — this reduces buyer landed cost for non-critical, non-certified applications. For certified material we coordinate mill traceability and test certificates. (Internal pricing indicators for finished C-22/C-276 commonly fall in the multi-tens USD/kg band; contact MWAlloys for current quotations and MOQ.)

2. Reclaim & custom processing: for sellers with mixed turnings or shavings, MWAlloys offers aggregation, pre-processing (cleaning, bundling), and export channels to specialty refiners — this raises net payout vs selling to a local general yard. We also offer custom cutting, machining, and fabrication services for customers who prefer finished parts rather than scrap sales. If you are a recycling operator or an industrial plant producing scrap, MWAlloys can provide an on-site quote and logistics plan.

Future outlook: 5–10 year scenarios and what to watch

Analysts point to a structural change in the nickel complex. Recent reporting (mid-2025) highlights increased Indonesian capacity and a resulting oversupply in refined nickel, which has pressured benchmark prices and, by extension, alloy scrap yields. That oversupply is expected to persist through the latter half of the decade unless demand (especially battery demand) reaccelerates.

Three plausible scenarios:

1. Baseline (most likely): moderate demand growth, continued capacity additions -> nickel remains under pressure through 2027–2028, keeping scrap payouts modest.

2. Bull case: accelerating battery demand for high-nickel chemistries or supply disruptions in nickel-rich jurisdictions -> benchmark nickel rallies, lifting Hastelloy scrap values significantly.

3. Bear case: demand substitution (LFP batteries, lower Mo use) and continued capacity -> lower long-term prices for nickel and alloy surcharges remain depressed.

Implication for recyclers & buyers: optimize timing for big sales (avoid dumping during troughs), maintain clean inventory, and cultivate direct relationships with alloy processors to access better long-term pricing.

FAQs

1. What is the scrap value of Hastelloy per pound today?
   Typical mid-2025 yard quotes for clean Hastelloy solids are roughly $2.00–$6.00 per lb depending on region and form; turnings/shavings are commonly near the lower end. Local quotes vary; check multiple buyers.

2. Is Hastelloy scrap worth more than stainless steel?
   Generally yes — because Hastelloy contains more nickel, molybdenum, and sometimes tungsten, which increase recoverable value compared with ordinary stainless grades.

3. How can I identify Hastelloy in a scrap bundle?
   Use part markings, heat codes, or handheld XRF to confirm nickel/element percentages. Visual alone is unreliable.

4. Should I sell Hastelloy turnings to a local yard or a specialist refiner?
   For small amounts, local yards are quick; for large volumes or higher recovery, specialist refiners and alloy processors typically pay more after assay. MWAlloys can facilitate aggregation and export for better returns.

5. What paperwork helps get the best price?
   Mill certificates, heat numbers, and a material test report (MTR) increase buyer confidence and often justify a premium.

6. Do mills publish alloy surcharges that affect merchant prices?
   Yes. Mill alloy surcharge reports and bulletin adjustments are used to compute finished product premiums; these influence the merchant price gap vs scrap.

7. Are finished Hastelloy bars cheaper from China?
   Chinese suppliers often offer competitive factory pricing for merchant forms — but verify certification and traceability for critical applications. Contact MWAlloys for ex-factory quotes.

8. What are the biggest risks that will change scrap prices?
   Nickel market shocks (supply disruption or demand surge), shifts in battery chemistry demand, trade restrictions, and moody refinery capacity changes.

9. How often do scrap yards change their Hastelloy rates?
   Frequently — daily to weekly — following spot nickel and alloyer demand. Large orders often get custom terms.

10. How to convert finished product quotes (USD/kg) to scrap expectations?
    Use published mill surcharges and metal content calculations to approximate recoverable metal value, then apply processing and logistical discounts common in the recycling market.

Authoritativeness & technical backing (standards and datasheets)

When specifying alloy chemistry, heat treatment and allowable conditions, rely on manufacturer datasheets and ASME/ASMT/EN specifications for design and procurement. For example, HASTELLOY® C-276 and C-22 technical datasheets and manufacturer PDFs provide composition and use cases; ASME/ASTM product specifications define acceptable product standards for pressure parts.

Final practical checklist for sellers & buyers

• Pre-sort and clean the lot — remove contamination.

• Ask buyers if they price by assay or by category; request sample XRF or lab assay if large value.

• Solicit multiple bids and compare net payout after weighing freight and processing.

• For finished product needs, request mill certificates and discuss MOQ to secure factory pricing from China suppliers like MWAlloys.