Why Is Rhodium So Expensive? (And What It Means for Your Converter)

Posted: June 4, 2025

Rhodium is one of the most expensive metals in the world, worth far more than gold, and it directly affects how much money you can get for your catalytic converter. It could be worth hundreds more if your converter contains rhodium, especially in higher amounts.

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What Is Rhodium?

Rhodium is a rare and silvery-white precious metal that belongs to the platinum group of elements. It’s highly resistant to corrosion and oxidation, which makes it ideal for use in high-heat environments—especially automotive catalytic converters.

Where Rhodium Is Used

While you won’t find rhodium in everyday jewelry or electronics like gold or silver, it plays a critical role in vehicle emission systems. Auto manufacturers use rhodium in catalytic converters to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, helping cars meet stringent environmental standards.

Why Rhodium Is So Valuable

The high price tag isn’t just hype—it results from extreme scarcity and intense demand.

  • Limited Supply: Rhodium is found in only a few regions globally, with 80% of the global output mined in South Africa. Annual global production is small, less than 1% of gold’s output.
  • High Industrial Demand: The auto industry is the largest consumer of rhodium, and environmental regulations worldwide have only increased demand. Supply, however, has remained relatively flat, driving prices up.

In some years, rhodium prices have surged past $20,000 per ounce, making it more expensive than gold and platinum combined.

How Rhodium Impacts Converter Pricing

Not all catalytic converters contain rhodium, and not all converters contain it in high amounts. That’s why pricing can vary so drastically.

  • Converters with more rhodium = higher scrap value.
  • Diesel and OEM converters often have different metal compositions, affecting payout.

Knowing the metal content is key, and rhodium is a major piece of that puzzle. It’s one of the three primary precious metals recovered from catalytic converters (alongside platinum and palladium), and often the most valuable contributor to your quote.

Why You Shouldn’t Guess—Get a Quote Instead

Determining how much rhodium (if any) is in your catalytic converter can leave you undervalued or overhyped. Some models have very little. Others have a lot, but you won’t know without proper evaluation.

That’s where we come in.

RRCats specializes in converter pricing based on real-time metal markets and verified serial numbers or photos.

Want to know if your converter contains rhodium?

📸 Send us a picture for a free quote.
We’ll tell you what it’s worth—no guessing, no gimmicks.

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Check corners, under shields, and down pipes for numbers. Not all catalytic converters have numbers.
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To get a quote sooner, attach photos of any serial numbers and an overhead pic of the catalytic converter(s).
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Upload a Photo: Please include a clear photo of one of the following documents: Vehicle or equipment, Registration, Title, or Bill of Sale. Why do we need this? We are required by law to verify proof of ownership before purchasing certain equipment or materials to prevent theft and ensure lawful transfer. For more details, refer to New Jersey Scrap Metal Laws – N.J.S.A. 13:1E-99.12 (or insert exact link to the statute you want to reference). This requirement is mandatory to receive a quote.

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