The copper wire scrap price per kg in Saudi Arabia is not one fixed number. It starts from the global copper price. Then it moves up or down with the type of wire, how much copper it holds, how clean it is, and how much you have to sell.
Clean bare copper earns the highest rate. Insulated cable earns less, because a buyer pays only for the copper inside the plastic.
This guide is for companies that handle cable in volume: contractors, demolition crews, renovation teams, factories, and warehouses in Dammam, Khobar, Qatif, and Jubail. It also clears up a common mix-up. Buying new cable and selling old cable scrap are two separate jobs, so we cover both. For today’s rate on your material, call Saudi Scrap Metal on 0573057098.
Buying new cable vs selling copper wire scrap
New cable is a finished product. You buy it by the metre or by the drum, and you choose it by conductor size, voltage rating, and standard.
Scrap cable is a raw material. It is sold by weight, and its value depends on the copper you can recover from it.
Saudi Scrap Metal works on the scrap side only. We buy used copper wire and cable scrap. We do not sell new cable. The buying questions are answered further down so you have everything in one place.
How much is 1 kg of copper wire?
There is no single price for 1 kg of copper wire. The rate follows the international copper price, usually the London Metal Exchange (LME) price converted to riyals. Clean bare bright wire is paid closest to that level. Insulated wire is paid on its copper recovery, so it always sits lower.
Here is a simple way to think about it. If a cable is about half copper by weight, its scrap value will be roughly half the clean copper rate, minus a small cost for processing.
Copper moves every trading day. Any price you see online may already be out of date. The safest step is to ask a buyer for a rate on the day, for your exact grade.
What affects the copper scrap price in Saudi Arabia?
Copper content
This is the biggest factor. Thick single-core power cable holds far more copper per kg than thin data cable.
Insulation
PVC, XLPE, rubber, and outer sheaths all add weight that has no copper value. Thicker insulation means a lower rate per kg.
Purity and contamination
Bare wire with no paint, solder, or tin is worth more. Oil, soil, burnt sections, and attached lugs or plugs lower the grade.
Weight and quantity
A full truck of sorted cable is easier to price and handle than a few small bags. Large lots from one site usually get a better offer per kg.
Market changes
Global copper prices react to demand, mining supply, and the US dollar. The riyal is pegged to the dollar at 3.75, so dollar copper prices pass through to local rates quickly.
Sorting and site access
Mixed loads are priced at the level of the lowest material in the pile. Clear access for weighing and loading also makes a visit faster and simpler.
Types of copper wire and cable scrap
| Scrap type | Common source | Copper content | Value level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bare bright copper wire | Clean offcuts, stripped wire | Very high | Highest |
| Clean copper wire (No. 1) | Thick bare wire, busbar | High | High |
| Mixed copper (No. 2) | Tinned, painted, or oxidised wire | High, less clean | Medium to high |
| Insulated building wire | Building and villa wiring | Medium to high | Medium |
| Unarmoured power cable | Feeders, substations, panels | Medium to high | Medium |
| Armoured cable | Underground and industrial runs | Medium | Medium to low |
| Control and instrument cable | Plants, control rooms | Low to medium | Low to medium |
| Data and telecom cable | Offices, hotels | Low | Low |
| Mixed cable bundles | Demolition, site clean-outs | Varies | Lowest until sorted |
Check the conductor before you sort. Cut the end of a cable. Copper looks reddish brown, while aluminium looks silver-grey. Aluminium cable is priced as aluminium scrap, not copper.
How companies can sell bulk cable scrap
Construction and electrical contractors
Drum ends, offcuts, and rejected lengths pile up during a project. Keep a separate bin for each cable type on site, and sell in one lot near handover.
Demolition companies
Cable pulled from old buildings often comes out mixed with steel, conduit, and rubble. Separate the copper cable first. Mixed loads always lose value.
Hotel and old building renovation
Room rewiring, lighting upgrades, and network changes produce a lot of thin wire and data cable. Plan scrap removal with the renovation schedule so it does not block corridors or lifts.
Factories and warehouses
Plant upgrades leave old power cable, motor windings, and panels. Warehouses may also hold old drum stock that will never be used.
Cable installers and traders
Surplus or damaged stock can be sold as scrap. If the cable is new and in good condition, ask a stockist first. It may be worth more as surplus than as scrap.
How to prepare, sort, weigh, and sell scrap cable
- Separate copper from aluminium. Use the cut-end check above.
- Sort by type. Keep bare wire, building wire, power cable, armoured cable, and data cable apart.
- Remove non-metal waste. Take out wood, cable trays, plastic conduit, and soil.
- Do not burn cable. Burning insulation is unsafe, harms the air, and lowers the copper grade. Most sellers do well selling cable with insulation on, priced by recovery.
- Estimate the weight. Cable datasheets list weight in kg per km. Multiply by the length you have for a quick estimate.
- Take photos and make a list. Show each type, the rough amount, and how it is stored.
- Weigh each grade separately. Ask for weighing on a calibrated scale, in front of your team.
Major cable companies in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has a strong local cable industry. Well-known manufacturers include Riyadh Cables Group, founded in Riyadh in 1984, and Saudi Cable Company, founded in Jeddah in 1975. Bahra Cables runs its plant in the Bahra industrial zone near Jeddah. Middle East Specialized Cables (MESC) is another known Saudi maker. This list is for reference only, not a ranking.
Which company wire cable is best?
No single brand is best for every job. The right cable is the one that matches your load, voltage, installation method, and project specification. Check that it meets Saudi standards (SASO) and the standard named in your design, such as IEC or BS. Then buy from a manufacturer or supplier who can show test certificates.
Where is the best place to buy wire?
For large projects, buy direct from the manufacturer or its authorised distributor. For smaller orders, use an established electrical wholesaler that can confirm the cable’s origin and standard. Avoid unbranded cable with no paperwork. Undersized or fake cable is a fire risk.
Sell copper cable scrap in the Eastern Province
Cable scrap buyer in Dammam
Dammam’s industrial areas, including the Second Industrial City, are full of contractor yards, workshops, and warehouses. If you have drum ends, old feeders, or stock clearing out of a warehouse, call us to arrange a site visit and weighing.
Copper wire scrap buyer in Khobar
Khobar has many hotels, offices, and older buildings under renovation. Rewiring jobs there create steady loads of building wire and data cable. We can plan collection around your work hours and building rules.
Copper cable scrap in Qatif
Qatif’s workshops, small contractors, and residential projects often produce mixed cable lots. Sorting them before our visit helps you get a clearer rate for each grade.
Bulk copper scrap buyer in Jubail
Jubail’s industrial plants produce cable scrap during upgrades and maintenance shutdowns. If your site needs gate passes or a permit to work, tell us early so the visit fits your safety rules.
How to sell your copper wire scrap to Saudi Scrap Metal
- Call 0573057098 or send your details through saudiscrapmetal.com.
- Share the basics. Tell us the cable types, rough weight, and site location. Photos help.
- Get a rate. We price each grade against the market on the day.
- Site visit. Our team checks the material and confirms the grades.
- Weighing. Each grade is weighed in front of your team.
- Agree and load. We agree the final amount and payment with you before anything is loaded.
Get today’s copper cable scrap rate
Copper prices change daily, so the fastest way to know your cable’s value is to ask. Call Saudi Scrap Metal on 0573057098 or visit saudiscrapmetal.com. Tell us what you have and where it is in Dammam, Khobar, Qatif, or Jubail, and we will give you a clear rate for each grade.
Frequently asked questions
What is the copper wire scrap price per kg today?
It changes daily with the global copper market and depends on your grade. Call 0573057098 with the cable type and rough weight to get the rate for that day.
Why is insulated cable priced lower than bare copper?
The buyer pays only for the copper inside. Plastic, rubber, and sheaths add weight but no copper value, so the rate per kg is lower.
Do you buy armoured cable?
Yes. Armoured cable is priced by its copper content. The steel armour adds weight, so its rate per kg is lower than unarmoured cable.
Do you buy aluminium cable as well?
Yes, but it is priced as aluminium scrap, not copper. Keep it separate from copper cable so each grade gets its own rate.
Should I strip the cable before selling?
Usually not. Most sellers get a fair deal selling cable with insulation on, priced by recovery. Never burn cable to remove insulation.
Can I sell new, unused cable as scrap?
Yes. If it is in good condition, ask a stockist first, because surplus cable may be worth more as resale stock than as scrap.
How do you weigh the scrap?
Each grade is weighed separately on a scale, in front of your team. You see the weight before the final amount is agreed.
Which areas do you cover?
Saudi Scrap Metal buys copper wire and cable scrap in Dammam, Khobar, Qatif, and Jubail in the Eastern Province.
How can I tell if a cable is copper or aluminium?
Cut the end and look at the conductor. Copper is reddish brown. Aluminium is silver-grey and lighter in weight.
Can you collect from an active construction or demolition site?
Yes, with planning. Tell us about site access, working hours, and any gate pass or permit rules before the visit.
What paperwork can my company get for the sale?
Tell us what your finance team needs before the visit. We will confirm what we can provide so your records match the sale.
Is there a minimum quantity?
Share the type and rough weight when you call. We will tell you honestly whether a site visit makes sense for that load.