ASFM COMMODITIES | COPPER

Copper

Powering the industries shaping tomorrow.

Copper is a critical industrial metal at the centre of global infrastructure, electrification and technological development. We connect verified buyers and sellers through reliable sourcing and coordinated international trade.

Aerial view of terraced Bingham Canyon copper mine in Utah 01GLOBAL COPPER SUPPLY

Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah · Photo by Eric Prado, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped from original

FormsCathode, concentrate, rod, scrap
Typical gradeGrade A cathode, 99.99% Cu
ShipmentContainers or bulk vessel
TermsFOB, CFR, CIF

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW

Growing Demand for Copper

Copper's conductivity makes it a foundational material for power, construction, transport and modern electronics.

Copper is one of the world's most strategically important industrial metals. Its exceptional electrical and thermal conductivity makes it essential to electricity networks, construction, transportation, industrial machinery and modern electronics.

Global copper demand is projected to increase as economies expand electricity infrastructure, accelerate electrification and invest in renewable energy technologies. Electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, wind and solar power, data centres and advanced manufacturing are expected to contribute to long-term demand growth.

Global annual copper demand is estimated at approximately 34 million tonnes across broad industry definitions. This is an indicative industry estimate, not a refined-copper-only measure. Some long-range outlooks project demand above 50 million tonnes by 2050.

As demand expands, reliable mine production, refining capacity, recycling and diversified international supply chains will become increasingly important to buyers and industrial consumers.

01 / INDICATIVE ESTIMATE34 Million TonnesIndicative annual global demand · broad-use basis
02 / LONG-RANGE OUTLOOK50+ Million TonnesProjected annual demand by 2050
03 / HORIZON2050Long-term demand horizon
04 / MAJOR DRIVERGlobal
Electrification
A major long-term demand driver

Demand figures are estimates and forecasts, not live ASFM trading statistics. The 34 Mt figure is an indicative industry estimate with a broad-use basis; definitions differ across sources. The >50 Mt long-term outlook is attributed to BHP's 2026 outlook.

GLOBAL COPPER SUPPLY

Leading Copper Producers Worldwide

Copper production is concentrated among several major mining nations, with South America and Central Africa playing particularly important roles in global supply.

Chile remains the world's leading copper-mining country, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Peru. These figures represent estimated mine production in contained copper, rather than refined copper output.

2025 ESTIMATES

Mine production by country

Contained copper · Mt
01CL
Chile
5.3 Mt
02CD
DR Congo
3.2 Mt
03PE
Peru
2.7 Mt
04CN
China
1.8 Mt
05RU
Russia
1.3 Mt
06US
United States
1.0 Mt
07ZM
Zambia
940 kt
08AU
Australia
730 kt
09ID
Indonesia
710 kt
10KZ
Kazakhstan
710 kt
World mine production · 2025 estimate≈23 Mt

DATA TABLE

Production detail

2025 · estimated
RankCountryMine production
01Chile5.3 million tonnes
02DR Congo3.2 million tonnes
03Peru2.7 million tonnes
04China1.8 million tonnes
05Russia1.3 million tonnes
06United States1.0 million tonnes
07Zambia940,000 tonnes
08Australia730,000 tonnes
09Indonesia710,000 tonnes
10Kazakhstan710,000 tonnes

01 / GLOBAL LEADER

Chile

5.3 Mt · estimated mine production

Chile is the world's largest copper-mining country, supported by extensive copper deposits and established mining infrastructure.

02 / MAJOR SUPPLY HUB

Democratic Republic of the Congo

3.2 Mt · estimated mine production

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has become one of the world's most important copper-producing nations, supported by major mining operations in the Central African Copperbelt.

03 / SOUTH AMERICAN PRODUCER

Peru

2.7 Mt · estimated mine production

Peru is a major global copper supplier, with substantial mining operations and an important position in international copper supply chains.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026. 2025 figures are estimated mine production of contained copper; world total rounded to approximately 23 million tonnes.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

Where Is Copper Used?

Copper's versatility connects essential infrastructure with fast-growing electrification and digital systems.

01 / POWER SYSTEMS

Electrical Infrastructure

Copper's excellent electrical conductivity makes it essential for power transmission, distribution networks, transformers, electrical wiring and renewable energy infrastructure.

02 / MOBILITY

Electric Vehicles and Transportation

Copper is widely used in electric vehicle motors, batteries, charging systems, wiring and vehicle electrical components. Electrification is an important driver of future copper demand.

03 / BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Construction and Buildings

Copper is used in electrical installations, plumbing, roofing, heating and cooling systems and other building infrastructure because of its durability and conductivity.

04 / DIGITAL SYSTEMS

Electronics and Data Centres

Copper is essential in circuit boards, electronic components, data centre infrastructure, servers and communication networks.

A CLEAR ROUTE TO COMPLETION

From first call to closed deal.

A structured process keeps both parties informed through verification, introduction and shipment.

01

THE BRIEF

Brief

Tell us the product, quantity, specification, destination and timing.

02

DUE DILIGENCE

Verify

We check company documents, availability and authority to deal on both sides.

03

DIRECT CONTACT

Introduce

We introduce you directly once confidentiality and commission terms are signed.

04

COMPLETION

Close

We stay with the deal through contract, payment instrument, inspection and shipment.

Looking to buy or sell copper?

Speak with the Copper Desk