Goldman Sachs(US:GS) Huan Qiu Wang·2026-01-09 07:12Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article is that global copper demand is expected to increase by 50% by 2040, driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence, defense, and robotics industries, leading to a potential supply gap of over 10 million tons if recycling and mining do not keep pace [1][3]. - Copper is a critical material for construction, transportation, technology, and electronics due to its excellent conductivity, corrosion resistance, and ease of processing. The report predicts that global copper demand will reach 42 million tons by 2040, a significant increase from 28 million tons in 2025, with nearly a quarter of the demand potentially unmet without new supply [3]. - Dan Yergin, Vice Chairman of S&P Global, states that the advancement of global electrification is a core driver, with copper being the foundational metal for electrification [4]. Group 2 - Goldman Sachs' commodity research team notes that copper prices have experienced significant volatility, rising from below $11,000 per ton at the end of November to a high of $13,387 per ton on January 6, marking a cumulative increase of 22%. They acknowledge that current prices exceed their estimated fair value of around $11,400 per ton, but believe the "overheating" is supported by substantial investor inflows and low inventory levels outside the U.S. [4]. - Goldman Sachs warns investors to be cautious of high price risks, stating that prices above $13,000 are unlikely to be sustainable. They maintain their forecast of $11,200 per ton for Q4 2026 and anticipate a potential pullback in Q2 [5]. - The current price surge is driven by three main themes: signs of tightness in the spot market, ongoing investment in AI data center construction attracting funds into the copper market, and a macro narrative of "economic overheating" that boosts expectations for U.S. economic growth and risk asset rebounds. This macro sentiment temporarily masks the underlying weak fundamentals [5].