Copper futures climbed above $6.2 per pound, approaching the record highs reached at the end of January, as investors increasingly expect that investments in AI infrastructure, power grid modernization, and clean energy will drive sustained long-term demand for the metal. Also, easing energy prices helped reduce concerns over global growth and industrial metals demand. At the same time, the ongoing Middle East conflict has disrupted shipments of sulphuric acid, a critical input in copper refining. China has banned sulphuric acid exports from May through at least December. The measure is expected to remove around 3M tonnes from the global seaborne market, significantly affecting major importers such as Chile, Indonesia, and India. Copper production in Chile had already declined by around 6% in the first three months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, even before accounting for the impact of sulphuric acid supply disruptions.

Copper rose to 6.25 USD/Lbs on May 8, 2026, up 2.04% from the previous day. Over the past month, Copper's price has risen 8.77%, and is up 35.72% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Historically, Copper reached an all time high of 6.58 in January of 2026. Copper - data, forecasts, historical chart - was last updated on May 8 of 2026.

Copper rose to 6.25 USD/Lbs on May 8, 2026, up 2.04% from the previous day. Over the past month, Copper's price has risen 8.77%, and is up 35.72% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Copper is expected to trade at 6.05 USd/LB by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate it to trade at 6.68 in 12 months time.



Price Day Month Year Date
Gold 4,708.49 22.15 0.47% -1.15% 41.64% May/08
Silver 79.97 1.605 2.05% 6.17% 144.45% May/08
Copper 6.25 0.1258 2.05% 8.79% 35.75% May/08
Steel 3,244.00 -7.00 -0.22% 5.63% 6.40% May/08
Lithium 194,000.00 3500 1.84% 24.56% 197.32% May/08
Platinum 2,049.80 -12.50 -0.61% -2.95% 106.01% May/08
Iron Ore 110.93 -0.02 -0.02% 4.39% 12.56% May/08



Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Chile Copper Production 434.31 378.55 Thousands of Tonnes Mar 2026
Peru Copper Production 223263.00 226256.00 Tonnes Feb 2026

Copper
Copper is one of the most widely used industrial metals in the world and is closely monitored as a barometer of global economic activity. It plays a critical role in construction, electronics, power generation, and renewable energy systems, making its price sensitive to changes in industrial demand and economic growth. Copper futures are actively traded on major exchanges, including the London Metal Exchange (LME) and the COMEX. Standard contracts typically represent 25,000 pounds of copper. On the supply side, Chile accounts for the largest share of global copper mining, followed by Democratic Republic of the Congo, Peru, China, and the United States. Major consumers and importers of copper include China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Germany. Copper prices displayed on Trading Economics are based on over-the-counter (OTC) and contract for difference (CFD) financial instruments and are intended to provide a general market reference only. These prices do not represent official benchmark prices. The data is supplied by a third party and, while efforts are made to ensure its reliability, Trading Economics does not verify the data and makes no representations or warranties.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
6.25 6.13 6.58 0.60 1988 - 2026 USd/LB Daily

News Stream
Copper Near Record Highs
Copper futures climbed above $6.2 per pound, approaching the record highs reached at the end of January, as investors increasingly expect that investments in AI infrastructure, power grid modernization, and clean energy will drive sustained long-term demand for the metal. Also, easing energy prices helped reduce concerns over global growth and industrial metals demand. At the same time, the ongoing Middle East conflict has disrupted shipments of sulphuric acid, a critical input in copper refining. China has banned sulphuric acid exports from May through at least December. The measure is expected to remove around 3M tonnes from the global seaborne market, significantly affecting major importers such as Chile, Indonesia, and India. Copper production in Chile had already declined by around 6% in the first three months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, even before accounting for the impact of sulphuric acid supply disruptions.
2026-05-08
Copper Set for Weekly Rise
Copper futures held above $6.1 per pound on Friday and were on track to post a weekly gain of more than 3%, supported by easing energy prices earlier in the week, which helped reduce pressure on global growth and industrial metals demand. However, sentiment remained fragile as the US and Iran exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz. The Trump administration is currently awaiting Iran’s response to a proposal aimed at reopening Hormuz and ending the nearly 10-week conflict, with reports suggesting Tehran is expected to reply via Pakistan within the next two days. The ongoing conflict has also disrupted shipments of sulphuric acid, a key input in copper refining, adding to supply-side risks. At the same time, continued large-scale agreements among major technology firms have accelerated data center construction, strengthening the longer-term demand outlook for copper given its critical role in electrification and power grid infrastructure.
2026-05-08
Copper is down by 5.61%
Copper decreased 5.61% to 5.7921 USD/Lbs
2026-05-07