Live Scrap Rates in Chaman

Chaman, the busy border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, operates a scrap market almost entirely driven by cross-border trade dynamics and the military installations guarding the frontier. Afghan scrap—from war-damaged vehicles, demolished Soviet-era infrastructure, and NATO-surplus equipment—flows through Chaman before being transported to Quetta or Karachi for processing. The town's own industrial base is minimal, making it primarily a transit and sorting point.

Afghan-origin vehicle scrap, including truck bodies and armoured-vehicle plate, trades at PKR 75–95/kg, often at a discount reflecting uncertain provenance. NATO-surplus aluminium containers and packing crates fetch PKR 420–500/kg, while copper from demolished communications infrastructure commands PKR 1,750–2,050/kg. Brass shell casings of various calibres—a legacy of decades of conflict—trade at PKR 1,200–1,450/kg through informal but well-established channels.

Trading in Chaman's scrap market carries unique regulatory and security risks; all material crossing the border requires customs documentation, and undeclared military-origin material can result in confiscation and prosecution. Established dealers along the Friendship Gate Road handle the majority of cross-border transactions and maintain the necessary customs relationships. Sellers should insist on immediate cash settlement rather than deferred payment, as the cross-border nature of Chaman's trade creates enforcement difficulties should payment disputes arise.