Cobalt Scrap Price Per kg — India 2026
Market-linked cobalt scrap rates updated regularly, tracking global cobalt (Co) benchmarks and Indian recycling/battery-recovery demand. These are indicative ranges — send us a photo and exact quote, and a confirmed pickup.
Latest Cobalt Scrap Price List – India Market (September 2026)
Battery, alloy & metal cobalt scrap accepted · Free pickup NCR · Same-day payment.
Rate Updated – 27-09-2026
| Cobalt Scrap Type | Price Range | Sorting Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Pure Cobalt Metal Scrap — turnings, plate, ingot offcuts | ₹5,000–6,200/kg | Keep dry, separate from alloys |
| High-Cobalt Alloy Scrap — Stellite, superalloy, aerospace grade | ₹4,000–6,000/kg | Send alloy grade if known |
| Battery Cobalt Scrap — Li-ion industrial cells, cathode scrap | ₹2,500–3,200/kg | Keep separate from e-waste |
| Low-Grade / Mixed Cobalt Scrap | ₹1,800–4,000/kg | Sort = +₹300–500/kg |
| Contaminated / Residue Scrap | ₹800–2,000/kg | Rate depends on recoverable % |
Why the price range is so wide:
Pure cobalt metal pays up to ₹6,200/kg because it converts almost directly to refined cobalt value. Battery and mixed scrap pay less because separation, testing and recovery cost more. The same lot can be worth ₹500–1,000 more per kg simply by keeping cobalt metal, alloy scrap and battery scrap in separate containers before selling. WhatsApp us for sorting guidance before pickup.
What determines your exact price?
The ranges above are wide because cobalt scrap is not one material. Four key factors determine where your lot lands within the range.
Cobalt content (%)
Battery and alloy scrap contain varying recoverable cobalt. Pure metal turnings run close to 99%. Li-ion cathode scrap and Stellite alloys run lower. Tell us the source so we can estimate content accurately.
High-cobalt alloy scrap can fetch ₹1,000–1,500/kg more than mixed low-grade material.
Scrap form & type
Metal, alloy and battery cobalt are processed differently and priced differently. Mixing them together forces buyers to price the whole lot at the lowest-value category present.
Keeping battery scrap separate from metal/alloy scrap alone can add ₹3,000–5,000 to a 10 kg mixed lot.
Contamination
Oxide layers, oil, plastic casing on battery cells, and mixed-metal fragments all pull the price down. Clean, sorted cobalt scrap gets the top rate in every category.
Clean vs. contaminated cobalt on the same grade: up to ₹600/kg difference.
Global battery & EV demand
Cobalt scrap rates in India track the LME/Fastmarkets MB cobalt benchmark and China domestic demand from the battery and superalloy sectors. When international cobalt corrects sharply, Indian scrap rates follow within weeks.
See the September 2026 market note below for the current China vs. international price gap.
Cobalt Price Per Kg vs Cobalt Scrap Price — What's the Difference?
Many people confuse cobalt metal price with cobalt scrap price. Here’s the difference:
- Cobalt price per kg usually refers to refined cobalt metal traded on the LME/Fastmarkets MB benchmark.
- Cobalt scrap price per kg depends on actual cobalt content, scrap form (solid, alloy, battery waste), and processing/recovery cost.
This is why scrap prices are lower than pure refined cobalt metal prices — the gap is the cost of sorting, testing and recovery.
Weekly Market Note — Cobalt (September 2026)
As of early September 2026, the China domestic cobalt benchmark (SMM) stands near $45,300/tonne, down about 11% month-on-month from roughly $51,000/tonne in August. The international benchmark (Rotterdam warehouse) stands near $56,300/tonne (~$25.5/lb), down only modestly over the same period.
The result is an unusually wide gap between the two markets — roughly 24%, up from about 13% in August. When the domestic Chinese price falls faster than the international price, it typically signals softer near-term Chinese battery/refining demand even as global supply stays tight.
What this means for Indian scrap sellers: Indian cobalt scrap rates are still anchored closer to the higher international benchmark for pure/high-grade material, but buyers may start pricing mixed and battery-grade scrap more cautiously if the domestic-China softness persists into Q4 2026. If you are holding a large lot, confirm the live rate before finalizing — don’t rely on a number seen weeks ago.
Is It the Right Time to Sell Cobalt Scrap?
You should consider selling now if:
- You have unused battery waste or alloy scrap sitting in storage
- Storage/holding cost is increasing
- You want to lock in a price before further market movement
You should confirm the live price first if:
- Scrap quantity is high
- Scrap purity is uncertain
- Market prices are fluctuating, as they are right now (see market note above)
Always confirm the live cobalt scrap price on WhatsApp before finalizing any deal.
How to Get the Best Price for Cobalt Scrap
- Separate cobalt scrap from other metals
- Keep battery scrap separate from alloy/metal scrap
- Share clear photos and approximate weight on WhatsApp
- Mention the scrap source (battery, alloy, machining waste)
- Sell in bulk where possible for a better per-kg rate
These small steps can increase your per-kg realization significantly.
Common Mistakes When Selling Cobalt Scrap
✓ Do these before selling
Simple steps that improve your rate
✓ Keep pure metal, alloy scrap and battery cells in separate containers — mixing forces the lowest-value price on the whole lot.
✓ Strip plastic casing and BMS boards off battery cells before weighing — that’s dead weight, not cobalt weight.
✓ Wipe off oxide layers and oil residue where you can — clean scrap gets the top rate in every category.
✓ Mention the source — battery, alloy, or machining turnings — it changes the estimate a lot.
✓ Send a clear photo and approximate weight on WhatsApp before pickup.
✗ Avoid these mistakes
Common errors that cost you money
✗ Don’t mix battery cells with metal turnings — one contaminated cell can drag down a whole clean lot’s grade.
✗ Don’t puncture or damage lithium cells while sorting — it’s a safety risk and doesn’t change the cobalt content.
✗ Don’t assume all batteries carry the same cobalt content — NMC cells carry meaningfully more than LFP.
✗ Don’t expect contaminated or residue scrap to price like pure metal — buyers re-test and renegotiate on-site.
✗ Don’t sit on a large lot too long — the market note above shows real week-to-week movement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cobalt scrap prices in India generally range between ₹1,800 and ₹6,200 per kg as of September 2026, depending on scrap type, cobalt content, quantity, location and market conditions. See the price table above for a full grade-by-grade breakdown.
Yes. Cobalt’s use in lithium-ion batteries, superalloys and industrial tooling keeps recycling demand strong, and India has no domestic cobalt mining — recovered scrap is a genuinely strategic input.
Cobalt scrap prices vary based on cobalt percentage, scrap form (metal, alloy, battery scrap), contamination level, quantity, location and recycling cost. See the four-factor breakdown above.
Yes, many lithium-ion batteries contain cobalt, though the percentage depends on battery chemistry (NMC cells have meaningfully more cobalt than LFP cells).
Yes. Global cobalt demand, the China domestic vs. international (Rotterdam) price gap, and battery-industry trends all influence cobalt scrap prices in India — see the weekly market note above.
Check Other Scrap Metal Prices
Selling a mixed lot? We buy tungsten carbide, tungsten and HSS scrap alongside cobalt — check today’s rate for each, or use the scrap value calculator.
Cobalt trades in its own market, separate from tungsten. But if you’re also holding tungsten carbide or HSS scrap alongside your cobalt lot — cobalt is the binder metal in both — WolfTrack’s weekly tungsten price intelligence covers that side of your inventory. Weekly Thursday brief and the Indian Tungsten Transaction Price Index, built by the same team behind this page.
Ready to sell? Get your exact cobalt rate today.
Send a photo on WhatsApp. Confirmed price in minutes. Free pickup NCR. Same-day payment.