Copper

Demand for copper is growing exponentially

Multi-purpose metal

Researchers are predicting that the world copper demand will almost double before 2035. It’s ubiquitous in society and powers the green energy transition – so as we grow and as we move towards the planet’s 2050 net zero goals, we will need ever more copper.

Some of this increasing demand will be able to be met through recyclable copper, but not all; the rest of it must be extracted from the ground. That’s where we come in.

Don’t just take our word for it. Among recent reports and studies, S&P Global Market Intelligence projects that copper demand could outpace supply by around 50 million tonnes (“Mt”) per year by 2035. For perspective, this is twice as much copper as humankind used over the period 1900–2022 as the industrial revolution intensified and spread.

27mt

global annual refined copper usage

3.25kg

annual refined copper use per capita

3.4%

compound annual increase in copper use in the last 120 years

US$250BN

approximate value of global copper market in 2024

Mining copper is vital to society

Copper is a fantastic, multi-purpose metal and has a huge variety of uses in our society.

Here are some of the reasons that continuing to mine copper is so important.

Due to its use in energy infrastructure, solar panels, energy storage systems, electric vehicles and the batteries that power them (to name just a few), copper has a myriad of important uses in the green energy transition.

Copper: The foundation of green energy

Copper’s attributes mean that it is the perfect metal to use in a wide range of situations. Amongst its many attributes, it is lightweight and a fantastic carrier of electricity, making it perfect for circuit boards and to carry electricity in homes. It is also corrosion resistant, non-magnetic and has antimicrobial properties, making it perfect for use in health services. See some of its uses below.

Copper where you don’t expect it

With copper such an important element in the future of society, it’s important that the supply is made secure, and no one business or country has too much control over its future. That’s not just important for copper either, it's true for all the rare metals and minerals extracted from the ground. 

Diversified supply lines