Copper Faces a Volatile Outlook | Presented by CME Group

Market Trends & Demand - Global copper consumption exceeds 25 million metric tons per year, driven by electric vehicles, renewable energy, and AI data centers [1] - Clean energy and electrification are projected to double global copper demand by 2050 [3] - China consumes over half of the world's copper, but a weaker property market may slow demand [4] Price Volatility & Supply Issues - Copper prices experienced significant volatility in 2025 due to US tariffs, with a 13% jump on July 8th and a subsequent 25% drop on July 30th after policy amendment [2] - New mines can take decades to come online, and existing mines face disruptions, potentially leading to supply issues [4] - Tariffs and supply issues could continue to cause wild price swings in the second half of 2025 [4] Long-Term Outlook - Long-term copper demand is strong due to the energy transition and AI, but supply may struggle to keep up [5] - Supply constraints create uncertainty and price risks for copper [5] - Electric vehicles use three to four times as much copper as gasoline-powered cars [3]