AYKY Aluminium Cable: Scrap Price and Why It Is Lower Than Copper
AYKY Aluminium Cable: Scrap Price and Why It Is Lower Than Copper
Aluminium cable buyback is paid according to the share of aluminium in the cable: in the WIP price list as of 10 November 2026, Al cables with up to 40 % metal content pay €0.50 per kg, Al cables 60 % pay €0.80 and clean, bright aluminium conductor pays €2.00 per kg. Depending on the cross-section, an AYKY cable contains roughly 28 to 52 % aluminium. The price is lower than for copper because a kilogram of aluminium is worth much less on the market, and aluminium cable also contains a smaller share of metal at small cross-sections.
How to calculate the aluminium content of an AYKY cable
AYKY has aluminium conductors, PVC insulation and a PVC sheath. Smaller sizes have solid round conductors (RE), larger ones sector-shaped conductors (SM). The aluminium weight is calculated the same way as for copper, only with the density of aluminium, 2.70 g/cm³.
Aluminium weight [kg/km] = sum of conductor cross-sections [mm²] × 2.70
Aluminium share [%] = aluminium weight [kg/km] ÷ cable weight [kg/km] × 100
For example AYKY 3×120+70: (3 × 120 + 70) × 2.70 = 430 × 2.70 = 1,161 kg of aluminium per kilometre, i.e. 1.16 kg per metre.
We took the total cable weight from the Kablo Vrchlabí datasheet for 1-AYKY 0.6/1 kV.
Aluminium content of the most common AYKY sizes
| Cable | Aluminium (kg/km) | Cable weight (kg/km) | Aluminium share |
|---|---|---|---|
| AYKY 4×10 | 108 | 390 | approx. 28 % |
| AYKY 4×16 | 173 | 540 | approx. 32 % |
| AYKY 4×25 | 270 | 770 | approx. 35 % |
| AYKY 4×35 | 378 | 970 | approx. 39 % |
| AYKY 4×50 | 540 | 1,250 | approx. 43 % |
| AYKY 4×70 | 756 | 1,700 | approx. 44 % |
| AYKY 3×120+70 | 1,161 | 2,600 | approx. 45 % |
| AYKY 3×150+70 | 1,404 | 2,900 | approx. 48 % |
| AYKY 3×240+120 | 2,268 | 4,600 | approx. 49 % |
| AYKY 4×240 | 2,592 | 5,000 | approx. 52 % |
The values are approximate. Cable weight varies by manufacturer: for example, AYKY 4×16 weighs 540 kg/km in the Kablo Vrchlabí catalogue and 570 kg/km in the Prakab catalogue. In addition, the nominal cross-section is defined by conductor resistance, not exact geometry.
The trend is the same as for copper cables. Up to 35 mm², AYKY contains less than 40 % metal; from 50 mm² upwards the aluminium share rises above 40 %, and for the largest sizes it approaches half of the cable weight.
Aluminium cable buyback: price groups and where AYKY fits
In the WIP price list, which we loaded on 10 November 2026, aluminium cables and conductors are divided as follows:
| Group | Description in the price list | Price per kg |
|---|---|---|
| Al cables 40 % | Al cables with metal content up to 40 % | €0.50 |
| Al cables 60 % | Al cables 60 % | €0.80 |
| XPE cables | Al cables with copper screen, by thickness and metal content | €0.80 |
| Alfa lano (AlFe rope) | Alfa lano | €0.60 |
| Al conductor, clean, bright | Clean bright aluminium | €2.00 |
Prices change with metal prices, so check the current price list before handing in material.
Based on the calculated aluminium share, AYKY is classified approximately as follows:
| Cable | Aluminium share | Likely group | Price per kg | Price per metre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AYKY 4×16 | approx. 32 % | Al cables 40 % | €0.50 | approx. €0.27 |
| AYKY 4×35 | approx. 39 % | Al cables 40 % | €0.50 | approx. €0.49 |
| AYKY 3×120+70 | approx. 45 % | Al cables 40 % to 60 % | €0.50 to €0.80 | approx. €1.30 to €2.08 |
| AYKY 3×240+120 | approx. 49 % | Al cables 40 % to 60 % | €0.50 to €0.80 | approx. €2.30 to €3.68 |
Sizes from 50 mm² upwards fall between two groups. The price list has an "up to 40 %" group and a "60 %" group, so the classification of cables with 43 to 52 % aluminium is decided by the buyer on inspection. For thick cables it is worth asking in advance.
We write about cable price groups in general in the article Cable buyback in Bratislava: how much you get per kilogram.
Do you have thick AYKY cables and don't know which group they belong to? Compare them with the aluminium cable groups in the price list.
Why the buyback price of aluminium is lower than copper
The difference is visible even with clean metal. Clean, bright aluminium conductor is €2.00 per kg in the WIP price list, new bare copper (Millberry) €10.00 per kg. So a kilogram of copper is worth five times as much at buyback. Three things contribute to this:
- Metal price. Buyback prices are based on the market price of the metal, and per tonne aluminium is several times cheaper than copper. The buyback price of aluminium is therefore lower.
- Less metal in the cable. At the same cross-section, an aluminium conductor weighs only about 30 % of a copper one (2.70 vs 8.96 g/cm³). Sheath and insulation weigh about the same, so a thin AYKY has a smaller metal share than a similarly thick CYKY. CYKY 3×2.5 contains about 47 % copper, AYKY 4×16 only about 32 % aluminium.
- Processing. At buyback you are paid for a cable from which the metal still has to be separated by shredding and separation. Processing costs do not depend much on which metal is inside, but with a cheaper metal they make up a larger part of its value.
Aluminium conducts current worse than copper, so for the same load an aluminium cable has a larger cross-section, usually one or two sizes up. Even that does not close the gap. Aluminium has about 61 % of the conductivity of copper, so a 120 mm² Al conductor corresponds to approximately 70 mm² Cu. Yet by weight it contains only about half as much aluminium as the equivalent copper conductor would contain copper, and each kilogram is worth a fifth at buyback.
Worked example (illustrative)
After renovating a service connection you are left with 40 m of AYKY 3×120+70, and after replacing risers in an apartment building with 120 m of AYKY 4×16.
AYKY 3×120+70: 40 m × 2.60 kg/m = 104.0 kg
AYKY 4×16: 120 m × 0.54 kg/m = 64.8 kg
If everything is classified in the 40 % group:
168.8 kg × €0.50 = €84.40
If the thick cable is classified in the 60 % group:
104.0 kg × €0.80 + 64.8 kg × €0.50 = €115.60
The difference of €31 comes only from handing in the thick cable separately from the thin one. If you put it in one bag with thin AYKY, the whole batch would probably be classified according to the worse material.
The calculation is illustrative. Weights are from the Kablo Vrchlabí datasheet, prices from the WIP price list as of 10 November 2026. Classification into groups is determined by the buyer.
Is it worth stripping AYKY?
Stripped clean, bright aluminium is €2.00 per kg in the price list. For AYKY 3×120+70 it works out as follows:
100 m insulated: 260 kg × €0.50 to €0.80 = €130.00 to €208.00
100 m stripped: 116 kg aluminium × €2.00 = €232.00
Difference: €24.00 to €102.00
For 100 m of cable you have to strip 400 m of sector-shaped conductors, which is several hours of work without a machine. With thin AYKY the difference is even smaller because they contain little aluminium. Stripping aluminium cables is therefore worthwhile only exceptionally, with a larger quantity of thick sizes and suitable tools. We discuss this in more detail in the article Cable stripping: when it pays off and when it doesn't.
How to prepare aluminium cables for buyback
- Never mix aluminium and copper. Copper cables are €0.50 to €4.00 per kg in the price list depending on metal content, aluminium cables €0.50 to €0.80. A copper cable in an aluminium batch loses most of its value.
- Keep thick sizes separate. AYKY from 50 mm² upwards contains more than 40 % aluminium, thin sizes less.
- Separate cables with a copper screen. Aluminium cables with a copper screen (typically high-voltage cables with XPE insulation) have their own group in the price list, XPE cables.
- Keep overhead lines separate. AlFe rope from overhead lines with a steel core has its own group in the price list, Alfa lano.
- Remove lugs, terminals and cable eyes. Copper and brass terminals on an aluminium cable reduce the purity of the batch. Brass can be sold separately.
- Keep stripped aluminium clean. The group Al conductor, clean, bright assumes metal without residues of insulation, paint or steel.
Do you have a larger quantity of aluminium cables from service connections or wiring? For larger volumes, a container or collection can be arranged.
Common mistakes
- Estimating value as if it were copper. A cable with the same cross-section and number of cores is worth a fraction in aluminium, even though it looks the same.
- Mixing AYKY with CYKY. This happens especially when replacing old wiring where aluminium and copper run along the same route.
- Burning the insulation. It is prohibited, and aluminium oxidises and can partially melt.
- Leaving heavy terminals and steel clips on. They add weight but lower the classification of the whole batch.
Frequently asked questions
How much aluminium is in 1 metre of AYKY 4×16 cable?
About 173 g. Four cores of 16 mm² add up to 64 mm², which at an aluminium density of 2.70 g/cm³ gives 172.8 g per metre. The whole cable weighs about 540 g per metre.
How much does 100 m of AYKY 3×120+70 cable weigh?
According to the Kablo Vrchlabí catalogue about 260 kg, of which about 116 kg is aluminium.
What is the buyback price for aluminium cable?
According to the WIP price list as of 10 November 2026, €0.50 per kg for metal content up to 40 % and €0.80 per kg in the 60 % group. Clean, bright aluminium conductor is €2.00 per kg.
How do I tell AYKY from CYKY if the cable has no marking?
By the cut. An aluminium conductor is matte silver, a copper one reddish. At the same thickness, aluminium cable is also noticeably lighter.
Are old aluminium wires from household wiring also bought?
Yes, WIP buys all common types of cables, including aluminium ones. The metal share in thin conductors of 1.5 to 4 mm² varies by type and insulation, so their group is determined by the buyer on inspection.
Conclusion
Depending on the cross-section, an AYKY cable contains roughly 28 to 52 % aluminium. Thin sizes up to 35 mm² belong to the group Al cables up to 40 % at €0.50 per kg; thicker ones are on the border with the 60 % group at €0.80. The buyback price is lower than for copper because aluminium is a cheaper metal and, at the same cross-section, there is less of it in the cable. You get the most if you separate aluminium from copper, thick sizes from thin ones, and remove the terminals. We show how to calculate the copper content of a copper cable in the article How much copper is in a CYKY cable.
Have you collected aluminium cables and don't know what they are worth? We will determine the classification on inspection according to cable type and cross-section.
Cover photo: Dmitry G, Wikimedia Commons, licence CC BY-SA 3.0.
