Copper

Learn more about copper and view copper price charts

Copper is one of the most commonly used of the base metals, and when in high demand, copper is a reliable indicator of our economic health. But its importance isn’t confined to electrical wires and thermal conductors.

Copper also plays a vital role in the rise of renewable energies and the production of electric vehicles, helping us transition to a low-carbon economy.

Our team of experts provides global and local data-driven insights, prices, forecasts and market news to help you make sense of the forces influencing the copper market. Our expert analysis provides critical insights to help you predict future trends for win-win outcomes in your contract negotiations.
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Inform your base metals strategy with metals price forecasts and analysis for the global base metals industry

Search copper prices
    • Copper grade A cathode premium, cif South Korea, $/tonne
    • Copper EQ cathode premium, cif Shanghai, $/tonne
    • Copper Concentrates Co-VIU, $/tonne
    • Copper concentrates RC implied traders purchase, cif Asia Pacific, cents/lb
    • Copper scrap No1 heavy copper & wire, dealer buying price, delivered to yard Montreal, Canadian cents/lb

    Market-reflective copper price data spanning the copper supply chain, from copper concentrates and copper wire to copper scrap

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    Featured report

    What’s ahead in the copper market? 

    As copper prices reach record highs and analysts warn of ‘unsustainable deficits’, we explore the key trends shaping the copper market:

    • How copper demand growth is being spurred by the energy transition
    • Copper production forecasts and the struggle to keep up with demand
    • Copper recycling and predictions for the future
    • Data on forecast copper deficit
    • The emerging challenges for copper smelters
    • Whether current copper trends can be sustained

    Acess the full report here

    What’s happening in the copper market?

    ACG Metals expects to begin to produce copper and zinc concentrates in mid-2026, marking a shift from gold toward base metals, as part of its plan to build a mid-tier copper company, according to its founder, chairman and chief executive officer.

    The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its southern neighbor Zambia are betting on winning more benefits from their copper endowment by directly trading the metal themselves while output and demand for copper surge,

    Freeport’s 2026 copper concentrate contracts introduce a higher floor-cap pricing structure that redefines industry benchmarks. The negotiations highlight broader shifts in global copper supply, smelting economics and pricing frameworks.

    ‘Animal spirits’ are back in the copper market as supply disruptions, declining ore grades, and rising demand push prices toward $19,000–$22,000 per tonne, with long-term demand supported by electrification, defense, and global infrastructure growth.

    Why copper smelters are holding strong despite tight margins and global supply pressures

    Trafigura chief executive officer Richard Holtum’s closing message onstage at the LME metals seminar was that processing capacity was more important than mining for national security

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    A trusted reflection of the copper markets, even at their most volatile

    Delivered to you from reporters embedded in the copper markets all over the world.

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