RE: Why is the copper price rising?2 Feb 2026 10:56
Whatβs driving demand for copper?
Some of the big growth industries of the future are heavy users of copper. Electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure such as wind turbines and solar panels, and the huge data centres required for the roll-out of artificial intelligence, all require large amounts of the red metal.
AI and data centres are expected to consume around 500,000 tonnes of copper a year by 2030, a big increase on previous years1.
These new sources of demand build on already high requirements from other infrastructure projects, especially in developing countries such as China and India. Copper is a key component in commercial and residential property, as well as traditional power grids and transport networks.