Aluminum 5052 (Plate) Scrap Prices in New Jersey
Check real-time Aluminum 5052 (Plate) scrap prices in New Jersey. Local scale payouts range from $1.20 to $1.32 per pound depending on whether the plate is bare or painted.
Average Aluminum 5052 (Plate) Price
- Low (up to $1.32): Floor price, typically for small loads.
- Mid ($1.32): A fair deal for standard quantities.
- High ($1.32+): Top-dollar rate. Offered for large commercial loads or by the most competitive buyers.
Pricing verified from 2 live board rates today.
Top Paying Scrap Yards for Aluminum 5052 (Plate) New Jersey
Don't let a buyer downgrade your heavy marine-grade plate to generic old sheet in New Jersey. Scrap yards vary widely in how they grade thick aluminum, so call ahead to confirm their current payout against the national average of $1.28 per pound. Ask specifically if they pay a premium for bare, unpainted 5052 solids.
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🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶How Aluminum 5052 (Plate) Compares to Other Alloys
The #1 rule at scrap yards: if you mix grades, they’ll weigh everything at the lowest rate. See the price gap below — if you have higher-value metal, always sort and weigh each grade separately to avoid leaving money on the table.
Aluminum 5052 (Plate) Price Trends & Market History
This chart shows where the market is headed. If the line is climbing, prices are rising — you might get a better deal in a few days. If it’s dropping, don’t wait: sell today before yards lower their buy prices further.
Aluminum 5052 (Plate): Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (LME)
Avg scrap yard price
World market price (LME)
Aluminum 5052 (Plate): Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History
| Period | World price (per lb) | Scrap yard price (per lb) | Spread vs. exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 (current) | $1.097176 | $1.14 | +$0.04 (3.7%) |
| February 2026 | $1.2032 | $1.12 | -$0.08 (6.9%) |
| January 2026 | $1.051423 | $0.89 | -$0.16 (15%) |
| December 2025 | $0.982942 | $0.89 | -$0.09 (9%) |
| November 2025 | $0.930043 | $1.10 | +$0.17 (18.6%) |
| October 2025 | $0.887584 | $1.06 | +$0.18 (19.8%) |
| September 2025 | $0.86119 | $0.77 | -$0.09 (10.4%) |
| August 2025 | $0.866703 | $0.82 | -$0.05 (5.2%) |
| July 2025 | $0.837774 | $0.71 | -$0.12 (14.9%) |
| June 2025 | $0.802343 | $0.68 | -$0.12 (15%) |
| May 2025 | $0.807171 | $0.69 | -$0.12 (15.1%) |
| April 2025 | $0.744003 | $0.67 | -$0.07 (9.6%) |
| March 2025 | $0.878574 | $0.75 | -$0.13 (15%) |
| February 2025 | $0.893382 | $0.76 | -$0.13 (15%) |
| January 2025 | $0.812942 | $0.72 | -$0.10 (11.8%) |
| December 2024 | $0.805026 | $0.69 | -$0.12 (14.8%) |
| November 2024 | $0.80919 | $0.69 | -$0.12 (15.1%) |
| October 2024 | $0.84811 | $0.72 | -$0.13 (14.9%) |
| September 2024 | $0.84145 | $0.74 | -$0.11 (12.5%) |
| August 2024 | $0.838665 | $0.71 | -$0.13 (15%) |
| July 2024 | $0.905877 | $0.77 | -$0.14 (14.9%) |
| June 2024 | $0.957757 | $0.77 | -$0.18 (19.2%) |
| May 2024 | $0.995197 | $0.85 | -$0.15 (15%) |
| April 2024 | $0.9588 | $0.82 | -$0.14 (14.9%) |
| March 2024 | $0.916803 | $0.78 | -$0.14 (15%) |
| February 2024 | $0.908876 | $0.77 | -$0.14 (15.1%) |
| January 2024 | $0.981155 | $0.83 | -$0.15 (15%) |
| December 2023 | $0.992781 | $0.81 | -$0.19 (18.9%) |
| November 2023 | $0.936113 | $0.76 | -$0.18 (18.8%) |
| October 2023 | $0.91751 | $0.78 | -$0.14 (14.9%) |
| September 2023 | $0.946997 | $0.77 | -$0.18 (19%) |
| August 2023 | $0.930013 | $0.79 | -$0.14 (15.1%) |
| July 2023 | $0.934068 | $0.79 | -$0.14 (15%) |
| June 2023 | $0.944237 | $0.80 | -$0.14 (15%) |
| May 2023 | $0.9455 | $0.80 | -$0.14 (14.9%) |
| April 2023 | $0.971563 | $0.83 | -$0.15 (15.1%) |
| March 2023 | $1.031729 | $0.88 | -$0.16 (15.1%) |
| February 2023 | $1.081664 | $0.92 | -$0.16 (14.9%) |
| January 2023 | $1.063787 | $0.90 | -$0.16 (15.1%) |
| December 2022 | $1.03949 | $0.88 | -$0.16 (15%) |
| November 2022 | $1.026153 | $0.84 | -$0.18 (17.8%) |
| October 2022 | $0.962755 | $0.82 | -$0.14 (15%) |
| September 2022 | $0.9553 | $0.81 | -$0.14 (15%) |
| August 2022 | $1.002665 | $0.75 | -$0.25 (24.8%) |
| July 2022 | $0.932735 | $0.79 | -$0.14 (15.1%) |
| June 2022 | $1.03653 | $0.88 | -$0.16 (15.2%) |
| May 2022 | $1.104181 | $0.93 | -$0.18 (15.9%) |
| April 2022 | $1.12712 | $0.96 | -$0.17 (14.9%) |
| March 2022 | $1.070248 | $0.91 | -$0.16 (14.9%) |
| February 2022 | $1.12205 | $0.95 | -$0.17 (14.9%) |
| January 2022 | $1.156365 | $0.98 | -$0.17 (14.9%) |
| December 2021 | $1.096607 | $0.93 | -$0.16 (14.8%) |
Aluminum 5052 (Plate) Scrap Price History — Daily Data
A day-by-day market snapshot in exact numbers. Every day we aggregate buy prices from local scrap yards, recording the average, low, and high. Use this table to track real price movement over recent days.
| Date | Avg price (per lb) | Change | Range (Low/High) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/4/2026 | $1.32 / lb | +$0.07 | $1.32 - $1.32 |
| 2/17/2026 | $1.25 / lb | +$0.07 | $1.25 - $1.25 |
| 12/5/2025 | $1.18 / lb | +$0.06 | $1.18 - $1.18 |
| 11/29/2025 | $1.12 / lb | -$0.03 | $1.12 - $1.12 |
| 11/20/2025 | $1.15 / lb | -$0.03 | $1.15 - $1.15 |
| 11/11/2025 | $1.18 / lb | — no change | $1.18 - $1.18 |
| 11/1/2025 | $1.18 / lb | +$0.02 | $1.18 - $1.18 |
| 10/24/2025 | $1.16 / lb | +$0.10 | $1.16 - $1.16 |
| 10/16/2025 | $1.06 / lb | +$0.08 | $1.06 - $1.06 |
| 10/11/2025 | $0.98 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.98 - $0.98 |
| 9/5/2025 | $0.97 / lb | -$0.03 | $0.97 - $0.97 |
| 8/24/2025 | $1.00 / lb | +$0.23 | $1.00 - $1.00 |
| 4/21/2025 | $0.77 / lb | +$0.04 | $0.77 - $0.77 |
| 1/19/2025 | $0.73 / lb | — no change | $0.73 - $0.73 |
| 1/9/2025 | $0.73 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.73 - $0.73 |
| 9/26/2024 | $0.72 / lb | -$0.06 | $0.72 - $0.72 |
| 9/19/2024 | $0.78 / lb | +$0.13 | $0.78 - $0.78 |
| 6/18/2024 | $0.65 / lb | -$0.03 | $0.65 - $0.65 |
| 12/16/2023 | $0.68 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.68 - $0.68 |
| 11/17/2023 | $0.66 / lb | — no change | $0.66 - $0.66 |
| 9/30/2023 | $0.66 / lb | -$0.11 | $0.66 - $0.66 |
| 11/27/2022 | $0.77 / lb | +$0.30 | $0.77 - $0.77 |
| 8/12/2022 | $0.47 / lb | -$0.38 | $0.47 - $0.47 |
| 5/23/2022 | $0.85 / lb | -$0.10 | $0.85 - $0.85 |
| 5/14/2022 | $0.95 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.95 - $0.95 |
Maximizing Value on Aluminum 5052 (Plate) Scrap
Aluminum 5052 is a highly sought-after alloy, primarily known for its exceptional corrosion resistance—especially against saltwater. If you are tearing down marine equipment, fuel tanks, or heavy-duty commercial truck panels, you are likely dealing with 5052 plate. Currently, our data shows national yards paying anywhere from $1.20 for painted, slightly dirty loads, up to $1.32 for pristine, bare plate. The national average sits around $1.28 per pound. Because this material is extremely dense and heavy, making sure it is properly graded makes a massive difference on your final ticket.
Yard Pro Tip: 5052 is non-heat treatable and gets its strength from magnesium. Because it is often used interchangeably in applications with Aluminum 6061 Structural, yards sometimes try to buy them together at a blended, lower rate. If you know you have pure 5052 from a marine tear-down, demand the yard hit it with their XRF analyzer (the 'gun'). 5052 will show a distinct magnesium signature (around 2.5%) compared to the magnesium/silicon mix of 6061. Don't settle for a generic 'mixed clip' price if you have clean, single-alloy plate.
Don't Leave Money on the Scale: Proper Sorting
The fastest way to lose money at the yard is lazy sorting. If you take premium, heavy 5052 plate and throw it into a bin with Aluminum Foil & Light Gauge scrap, the scale operator will pay you the light gauge rate for the entire load. You are throwing away roughly $1.18 per pound by not keeping your heavy solids separate.
| Material Condition | Expected Payout |
|---|---|
| Clean / Bare 5052 Plate | Top tier. No paint, no steel bolts, no rubber gaskets. Yields prices near $1.32. |
| Painted / Dirty 5052 | Mid to low tier. If it requires processing to remove paint or ferrous attachments, expect closer to $1.20. |
Market Movers: What Drives 5052 Pricing
The price of 5052 scrap is tied heavily to the LME aluminum futures, but also specifically to the commercial trucking, aerospace, and marine manufacturing sectors. Because it is a premium alloy, yards generally buy it at roughly 31.7% below spot price to cover the costs of shearing, baling, and freight back to the mills.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 5052 and 3003 plate?
While both are non-heat treatable, 5052 is alloyed with magnesium, making it much stronger and more corrosion-resistant than the manganese-alloyed Aluminum 3003. 5052 is typically used for heavy-duty applications like fuel tanks and boat hulls, whereas 3003 is softer and used for general sheet metal work.
Will yards buy 5052 if it is painted?
Yes, but at a significant discount. Painted aluminum must be smelted differently to burn off the impurities, so yards will drop the price from the $1.28 average down closer to the $1.20 floor. If you have the time and tools to strip it, bare metal always pays more.
How can I tell if my plate is 5052?
Visually, it is very difficult to tell apart from other thick plates like 6061. Your best clue is its source (marine applications, fuel tanks, heavy truck bodies). To be absolutely certain and get the best price New Jersey, ask the scrap buyer to test it with an XRF analyzer.