Copper futures slipped below $6.2 per pound on Monday, marking a third straight session of losses as growing evidence that the Middle East-driven energy price shock is fueling broader inflationary pressures reinforced expectations for tighter central bank policy. In the latest developments, President Donald Trump warned that Tehran is running out of time to reach an agreement with Washington, while Iranian media reports suggested negotiations remain at an impasse. Higher interest rates are seen weighing on the outlook for global economic growth and manufacturing activity, putting additional pressure on industrial metals demand. Sentiment was also dampened by signs of weakness in China’s economy, with retail sales and industrial production both missing expectations, while fixed asset investment unexpectedly contracted, raising concerns about demand prospects in the world’s largest copper consumer.

Copper fell to 6.20 USD/Lbs on May 18, 2026, down 0.77% from the previous day. Over the past month, Copper's price has risen 2.77%, and is up 34.12% 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 6.67 in May of 2026. Copper - data, forecasts, historical chart - was last updated on May 18 of 2026.

Copper fell to 6.20 USD/Lbs on May 18, 2026, down 0.77% from the previous day. Over the past month, Copper's price has risen 2.77%, and is up 34.12% 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 6.35 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 7.04 in 12 months time.



Price Day Month Year Date
Gold 4,535.52 -12.37 -0.27% -5.92% 40.76% May/18
Silver 75.47 -0.277 -0.37% -5.31% 133.27% May/18
Copper 6.20 -0.0528 -0.84% 2.70% 34.02% May/18
Steel 3,189.00 -22.00 -0.69% 1.63% 3.10% May/18
Lithium 191,500.00 -500 -0.26% 11.01% 200.63% May/18
Platinum 1,968.70 -23.10 -1.16% -5.68% 95.97% May/18
Iron Ore 110.77 -0.35 -0.32% 3.42% 10.68% May/15



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
6.20 6.25 6.67 0.60 1988 - 2026 USd/LB Daily

News Stream
Copper Declines for Third Straight Session
Copper futures slipped below $6.2 per pound on Monday, marking a third straight session of losses as growing evidence that the Middle East-driven energy price shock is fueling broader inflationary pressures reinforced expectations for tighter central bank policy. In the latest developments, President Donald Trump warned that Tehran is running out of time to reach an agreement with Washington, while Iranian media reports suggested negotiations remain at an impasse. Higher interest rates are seen weighing on the outlook for global economic growth and manufacturing activity, putting additional pressure on industrial metals demand. Sentiment was also dampened by signs of weakness in China’s economy, with retail sales and industrial production both missing expectations, while fixed asset investment unexpectedly contracted, raising concerns about demand prospects in the world’s largest copper consumer.
2026-05-18
Copper is down by 5%
Copper decreased 5% to 6.2389 USD/Lbs
2026-05-15
Copper Falls for Second Consecutive Session
Copper futures dropped to near $6.3 per pound on Friday, marking a second straight session of losses as elevated prices discouraged buying activity in China. The metal also faced pressure from accelerating US inflation, which reinforced expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate hike later this year. Despite the recent decline, analysts continue to view Chinese copper demand as broadly resilient this year, with consumption from clean energy and technology-related industries helping offset weakness in the property and construction sectors. Copper also remains supported by a constructive long-term outlook driven by artificial intelligence-related infrastructure expansion, power grid modernization, and the broader global energy transition. On the supply side, China’s export restrictions on sulfuric acid, combined with disruptions to sulfur production in the Middle East, could tighten global supply conditions and provide additional structural support for prices.
2026-05-15