Opinion

Copper: 4 things to know

EV and grid-related growth will boost long-term demand, but short-term supply-demand mismatches will cause ongoing volatility in both copper price and treatment and refining charges

1 minute read

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Emily Brugge

Senior Analyst, Copper Supply

Emily contributes to the Copper Markets and Copper Concentrates services.

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Eleni Joannides

Research Director, Copper

Eleni brings more than 30 years' experience in the metals and mining sector to her role on our copper team.

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We stand at a pivotal moment for the metals that will be essential to the energy transition. Metals-intensive low-carbon electrification remains a significant demand driver for transition metals, but geopolitical tensions and a challenging fiscal environment mean net-zero policies are being rolled back.

For copper, EV and grid-related growth will boost long-term demand, but short-term supply-demand mismatches will cause ongoing volatility in both the copper price and treatment and refining charges.

We have put together an insight on four things to know about copper this year. Please fill out the form at the top of the page to download the full insight, and learn more about how:

  1. We can expect volatility in copper prices to continue
  2. An excess of primary smelter capacity is keeping the concentrate market tight
  3. EV and grid-related market growth will boost long-term copper demand
  4. Existing players could be joined by new jurisdictions and investment sources

Download the insight

For more information on the topics listed above, plus a range of detailed graphs and extra insights, please fill out the form at the top of the page.

Plus, stay tuned for this year's instalment of our metals and mining outlook series, coming soon, where we'll be diving into the key trends to look out for copper and other key transition metals in 2025.