Scrap Inconel 718 Prices: What Sellers, Recyclers Need to Know (2025)

If you are selling scrap Inconel 718 today, expect wide variance in pay-out: typical yard buy prices in 2025 commonly fall between $0.50 and $5.50 per pound, depending on grade, cleanliness, form (turnings, castings, sheet, or wrought), regional demand and the buyer’s ability to remelt and segregate alloys. Higher values are paid for heavy, clean, unmixed 718 with traceable specification (UNS N07718 / AMS/ASTM) and for volumes large enough to justify testing and re-melting; small, mixed, or contaminated pieces can attract only pennies on the dollar. This gap exists because Inconel 718 is a high-nickel superalloy with valuable alloying elements (nickel, niobium, molybdenum, chromium) but it requires specialized handling and remelt processes — both of which alter the net price scrap buyers will offer.

What is Inconel 718?

Inconel 718 (commonly referenced by UNS N07718) is a precipitation-hardening nickel-chromium superalloy engineered for high strength and stability from cryogenic conditions up to roughly 700°C (≈1300°F). It contains a high fraction of nickel (~50–55%) with chromium, iron, niobium (columbium), molybdenum, titanium and aluminum in controlled amounts; those alloying elements are the reason scrap 718 is materially valuable to remelters. Specifications commonly used in industry include AMS 5662 / AMS 5663 (bar/forgings) and product specs such as ASTM B637 / B670 for certain forms. Because of its composition and applications (turbine parts, downhole oil & gas components, aerospace hardware), 718 scrap is treated as a premium non-ferrous alloy stream, but with extra conditioning and testing requirements.

Typical scrap price ranges in 2025

Below is a practical price-range table aggregated from multiple public yard listings and alloy-buyer reports. These are market ranges — always confirm locally. Sources and recent yard price snapshots show substantial dispersion.

Notes on the table: prices fluctuate day-to-day and by geography; some specialized alloy recyclers may pay above the top of these ranges when nickel markets are firm or when the lot is turnkey (tested, weighed, and certified). Conversely, small local yards with minimal access to remelters often publish lower prices. Sample yard snapshots (iScrapApp, Rockaway, D&D Scrap) show specific daily numbers consistent with these ranges.

How scrap buyers price Inconel 718 — practical mechanics

Buyers do not simply multiply a single commodity nickel price by weight. Typical components of a buyer’s offer include:

• Base alloy value: derived from current nickel and other alloying element values, often using internal formulas or published alloy-surcharge tables. Some mills/purchasers publish an “alloy surcharge” per lb for specific alloys (e.g., Special Metals lists per-alloy surcharge adjustments).

• Form factor adjustment: fines/turnings, sheet, bar, castings — machining chips and clean turnings are worth more; contaminated castings are discounted.

• Testing and analysis costs: buyers deduct lab/assay fees or apply lower rates to untested lots. For verified certificates (mill test reports or chemical assays), the price improves.

• Processing cost / contamination risk: presence of heavy ferrous contamination, coatings (chrome/paint), lubricants or oil reduces offers substantially.

• Volume incentives: per-lb rates rise with scale because fixed costs (testing, sampling, shipping) are spread.

• Regional logistics and remelt capacity: local remelting or near-by specialty alloy foundries raise demand and price; remote areas lowering net delivered value.

Buyers may reference public alloy surcharge tables or their own historical purchasing grid. For example, specialty alloy manufacturers and remelters publish prior-month adjusters that show typical surcharge value per alloy as a guide to pricing.

Scrap Inconel 718 – Global Price Table (2025)

Summary (Aug 2025): Public dealer quotes and marketplace listings suggest clean Inconel 718 scrap typically trades around $5.9–$6.4/lb in China/exports, ~$3.6–$6.0/lb in India (converted to USD), and roughly $2.0–$8.0/lb in the U.S. depending on form (solids vs. turnings) and segregation. USD equivalents below use August 2025 FX snapshots.

Scope note: These are observable dealer/marketplace quotes (not exchange benchmarks). Actual yard offers vary by chemistry (Nb/Ta), cleanliness, radiation test, radio-tag traceability, size, and lot weight.

Table — Posted/Observed Quotes & Converted USD (as of Aug 2025)

FX references used for conversions (Aug 17, 2025 snapshots):

• USD/CNY ≈ 7.1857 (for context).

• USD/INR in Aug 2025 averaging ~87.60 (daily range 87.17–87.90 through mid-Aug).

Market drivers that move scrap Inconel 718 prices

Understanding macro drivers helps you time sales and negotiate:

1. Nickel commodity price and LME/NYMEX trends — nickel is the biggest single cost driver for Inconel; declining nickel futures typically pressure scrap pay-outs, while spikes increase offers. USGS commodity reports and LME activity frequently affect pricing cycles.

2. Aerospace & oil & gas demand — orders for turbine components, aftermarket engine parts, or downhole hardware shift the demand for remeltable 718 feedstock. When aero maintenance cycles or oilfield refurbishment increase, yards see stronger offers.

3. Remelt capacity & regional logistics — specialized remelters (vacuum induction, VIM/VAR) are required for many high-grade re-use streams; limited remelt capacity bottlenecks can suppress local prices.

4. Supply interruptions or mill production changes — if mills cut production of finished 718, scrap and secondary markets can tighten or loosen depending on upstream flows.

5. Regulatory & environmental costs — stricter environmental handling for contaminated turnings or coated parts increases processing costs; buyers pass that on as lower offers.

6. Currency and freight rates — international trade in alloy feedstock is sensitive to USD strength and freight: export buyers pay differently depending on shipping and duties.

How to identify, prepare and document scrap to get the best price

Top practical actions for a seller:

• Segregate by alloy and form: separate 718 from 625, 600 and other nickel alloys. Mixing alloys drastically lowers the price. If you cannot visually confirm, provide buyer with the right to sample/assay and aim to supply certified test reports.

• Remove coatings and unbonded attachments: strip heavy plating, remove attached steel pieces and large bolts — the cleaner the metal, the higher the per-lb.

• Dry turnings and chips: oil/dirt lowers offers; dry chips and swarf get a premium. Use centrifugal dryers or solvent reclamation where feasible.

• Bag or containerize by grade: clearly label “UNS N07718 — Inconel 718” with approximate weight and origin. Buyers love traceability.

• Provide paperwork if available: mill test reports (MTRs), part numbers, or purchase orders that trace provenance will lift offers for resale into high-value markets.

• Get an independent assay for large lots: for multi-ton lots, spend a modest assay cost to extract full value; assay results often pay for themselves in higher offers.

Practical tip: for volumes under a few hundred pounds, focus on local specialty alloy yards who understand 718; for multiple tonnes, approach remelters and brokers who deal in certified lots.

Common pitfalls that lower pay-outs

• Mixed alloy lots: 718 mixed with 625 or 600 will force buyers to assume lower common denominator value.

• Ferrous contamination: heavy steel inclusions require additional separation — buyer discounts the lot.

• Paint, plating, or heavy oxidation: increases processing cost; necessary cleaning reduces net.

• Small, infrequent consignments: buyers charge higher sampling/handling fees.

• Missing traceability: if the lot can’t be tied to specification, it may be relegated to lower-grade remelt or sold domestically at a discount.

Practical selling strategies & negotiation tips

• Get multiple offers: price shopping among a few specialized alloy recyclers often yields meaningful delta.

• Offer turnkey lots to remelters: include assay, cleaned product and containerized shipments for a premium.

• Negotiate sampling terms: propose buyer pays for a mill-authorized assay if lot passes a minimum weight threshold.

• Consider consignment to a broker: brokers can often net more for large, certified lots after matching with end-users.

• Time large disposals: if nickel futures are low, consider holding longer (if feasible) or splitting sales to capitalize on price moves. (Do risk assess — holding waste has storage and environmental cost.)

Example calculator & sample scenarios

Quick formula (simplified buyer perspective):

Offer ($/lb) ≈ Alloy Surcharge per lb (for 718) × Purity factor × Form factor – (Assay + Handling fee)/lb

• Alloy surcharge per lb: internal buyer number tied to nickel & alloy metals (example: $4.00/lb for 718 surcharge in a recent buyer table).

• Purity factor: 1.00 for clean 718; 0.6–0.85 for moderately contaminated; <0.5 for mixed lots.

• Form factor: 0.9–1.3 (chips can have premium, large forgings slightly lower per lb).

• Assay/handling: $0.10–$0.75/lb, depending on lot size.

Scenario A — Clean turnings, 1,500 lb lot:
Assume surcharge = $4.00/lb; purity = 0.95; form factor = 1.1; assay/handling amortized = $0.20/lb.
Offer ≈ (4.00 × 0.95 × 1.1) − 0.20 = (4.18) − 0.20 = $3.98 / lb.

Scenario B — Mixed small lot, 200 lb, oily castings:
Purity = 0.55; form factor = 0.8; surcharge = $4.00; assay/handling = $0.75/lb (small lot).
Offer ≈ (4.00 × 0.55 × 0.8) − 0.75 = 1.76 − 0.75 = $1.01 / lb.

These simplified scenarios align with marketplace snapshots (see yard listings and aggregator averages).

Standards & technical references that affect valuation and remelt

When a lot can be tied to recognized standards and specifications, buyers pay more. Key specs and identifiers to know:

• UNS N07718 — the universal numbering system designation for Alloy 718.

• AMS 5662 / AMS 5663 — aerospace material specs for bars and forgings of Alloy 718 (used to validate high-value feedstock).

• ASTM B637 / ASTM B670 — product standards relevant to forgings, bars, strip and other forms of nickel alloys including 718.

• Manufacturer technical bulletins / datasheets (Special Metals, Haynes) — essential for exact composition windows and remelt considerations.

Providing mill test reports (MTRs) that reference these specifications will materially improve offers, since remelters can place product directly into certified manufacturing streams rather than first treating it as generic scrap.

FAQs

1) What is the highest price I can expect for scrap Inconel 718 today?
Top market pay-outs for very clean, certified, large lots of 718 can exceed $5.00–$5.50 per lb, but that is conditional on volume, traceability and buyer access to remelt capacity. Local achievable prices are often lower.

2) Why do some yards pay only $0.40 or $0.50 per lb for “Inconel”?
Lower offers usually reflect mixed alloy contamination, oil/paint, lack of certification, or very small volumes where testing and handling costs dominate. Public aggregator snapshots confirm sub-$1.00 offers at some yards.

3) How can I prove my scrap is 718 and not a different nickel alloy?
Get an XRF handheld assay or a lab chemical analysis. For large lots, request a certificate of analysis or mill test report (MTR) tied to the parts; buyers will reward traceability.

4) Are machining chips (turnings) worth more than big castings?
Clean, segregated, dry chips often command a premium per pound because they are an efficient feedstock for remelting; castings with surface scale or coatings are discounted.

5) Does Inconel 718 scrap price track nickel futures directly?
It is correlated — nickel is the largest cost component — but buyer price grids, regional remelt capacity and alloy-specific elements (niobium, molybdenum) mean the relationship is not 1:1. USGS and LME nickel trends frequently influence the direction of offers.

6) Which documents increase the best offers?
Mill test reports (MTRs), purchase orders, part numbers tied to AMS/ASTM specs, and independent assays. They reduce buyer risk and testing fees.

7) Is it worth shipping small lots to a specialty alloy buyer?
For small lots under a few hundred pounds, shipping may erode value. Local specialty yards with alloy expertise are usually preferable for small consignments; for bulk lots, shipping to remelters is justified.

8) How do coatings or stainless steel attachments affect value?
Platings (e.g., chrome), paint or stuck steel reduce net weight of true alloy feed and increase processing; buyers heavily discount or refuse such lots unless cleaned.

9) Can I sell 718 scrap internationally for a better price?
Yes — brokers and exporters can sometimes access markets with stronger remelt demand, but you must account for export paperwork, duties, shipping and often larger minimum lot sizes. Also check local export controls and hazardous waste rules.

10) What’s the best way to find current local prices quickly?
Use scrap price aggregators (e.g., iScrapApp, Rockaway Recycling), call several local alloy yards, and request written quotes that specify form, minimum lot weight and assay terms.

Quick checklist for sellers

• Segregate 718 from other alloys.

• Dry and de-oil chips/turnings.

• Remove attached steel/fasteners.

• Collect MTRs or purchase paperwork where possible.

• Get a sample assay for multi-ton lots.

• Shop at least 3 alloy buyers; ask about assay charges and handling fees.

• Consider brokers for large certified lots.

Closing remarks — positioning for better returns

Scrap Inconel 718 is valuable but complex to monetize. Your best return comes from clean, documented, large consignments sold to experienced alloy recyclers or remelters. For ad-hoc or small amounts, use local alloy specialists who understand superalloys rather than general scrap yards. Keep in mind that in 2025 the nickel market and remelt capacity remain key determinants — tracking published alloy surcharge adjustments and staying ready with assays and paperwork will directly improve your pay-outs.

Authoritative references

• Special Metals — INCONEL® alloy 718 technical bulletin (UNS N07718, product data)
• Wikipedia — Inconel (overview of alloy family and composition)
• U.S. Geological Survey — Nickel: Mineral Commodity Summaries (annual nickel market & statistics)
• Zapp/Alloy datasheet — Alloy 718 technical data (remelting & properties)