The cost of die casting alloys, similar to any commodity, is subject to fluctuation. Supply sources for all four major alloy groups are stable, so that fluctuations are generally predictable. Where desirable or required, the purchaser of die castings can enter into a contract that fixes alloy prices for a specified time.

The real price of alloy is determined by the listed price of the alloy, the cost to melt, and the cost of reprocessing scrap generated in the die casting process. Die casting scrap consists of the metal trimmed from the casting shot and casting rejects.

Die casters are systematically reducing metal processing costs by reducing rejects and minimizing the amount of extraneous metal trimmed from the casting. In some cases, high volume metal suppliers are assisting in energy conservation by delivering aluminum to the die caster in molten form, eliminating the energy required to remelt the metal.