The Indispensable Element
Copper is a cornerstone of modern society, vital for everything from household electronics to critical infrastructure. Its exceptional conductivity and versatility make it irreplaceable for current technologies and absolutely essential for the green energy revolution and the expanding digital world. This infographic explores copper’s pivotal role, the burgeoning demand, the challenges in supply, and the path to securing this critical resource for a sustainable future.
Data derived from “Copper: An Essential Metal for Today and Tomorrow” report.
Copper in Everyday Life & Industry
Copper’s superior electrical and thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, and malleability make it a fundamental component across a vast array of modern applications, establishing a high baseline of existing demand. [1]
Electronics
Printed circuit boards, wiring in smartphones, laptops, TVs, and countless consumer gadgets.
Infrastructure
Electrical wiring in buildings, plumbing systems, and public utilities.
Industrial Machinery
Motors, transformers, and various components in manufacturing and heavy industry.
Fueling the Future: A Demand Revolution
The global energy transition and rapid technological advancements are set to dramatically escalate copper demand. Clean energy technologies, which rely heavily on copper, could abate two-thirds of GHG emissions by 2050. [2]
Electric Vehicle (EV) Copper Consumption
EVs use 2 to 4 times more copper than traditional cars. [2, 3, 4] Demand is soaring, projected to reach 1.74 million tonnes by 2027 from 185,000 tonnes in 2017. [5]
Data: [5, 6]
Sectoral Demand Growth by 2035
Significant increases in copper demand are expected across various green and digital sectors by 2035. [6]
Data: [6]
Shifting Global Copper Demand by 2050
The energy transition and digital sectors are projected to significantly increase their share of total copper demand. [8]
Data: [8]
Smart Grids & Transmission
Electricity network demand to rise 49% by 2035 (4.1Mt to 6.2Mt). Grid battery storage demand to surge 557%. [6]
Renewable Power
Solar panel demand up 43%, wind power up 38% by 2035. [6] Wind turbines: 2.5-6.4t Cu/MW; Solar: 5.5t Cu/MW. [4]
Digital Technologies (AI & Data Centers)
Copper demand in the digital sector projected for a sixfold increase by 2050. Data centers alone may consume 9% of world electricity by 2050. [7, 8]
The Supply Squeeze: A Growing Challenge
While demand surges, global copper supply faces significant headwinds, including modest production growth and critically declining ore grades.
Global Mine Production Trend
Production grew from 5.9 Mt in 1970 to ~23 Mt in 2024. However, recent growth (1.6%-3.5% annually for 2024-2025) is modest compared to demand. [6, 9, 10, 11, 12]
Data: [6, 9, 10, 11, 12]
The Critical Decline in Ore Grades
~25%
Average ore grade decrease in just 10 years (as of 2016). [14]
9.1%
Drop in average reserve grade from 0.54% Cu (2012) to 0.50% Cu (2022). [14]
Average 21st-century ore grade is below 0.6% Cu. [13] Lower grades mean more rock processed for the same copper, increasing costs and environmental impact. [2, 3, 14]
Bridging the Gap: The Path to Future Supply
Meeting the anticipated demand requires overcoming significant hurdles in new mine development and securing massive capital investment.
Projected Demand vs. Supply Growth
Global copper consumption is set to rise 26% by 2035 (IEA), potentially 70% by 2050 (BHP), far outpacing current supply growth trends. [6, 7]
Illustrative based on data from [6, 7, 11, 12]
Lengthening Mine Lead Times
The time from discovery to production is increasing, delaying new supply. [14]
Data: [14]
Half of the copper needed by 2035 lacks funding or development plans. [7] 900 ktpa of new projects need sanctioning annually. [16]
Massive Investment Required
$2.1 Trillion
Needed by 2050 for net-zero raw materials demand (BloombergNEF). [6]
$250 Billion
To address the immediate supply-demand gap. [6]
Annual Capex hit $42 Billion in 2024, up 25% YoY. [4]
Challenges in Bringing New Copper Supply Online
The journey from discovery to production is long and fraught with challenges, contributing to supply constraints.
Increasingly scarce major new finds.
Lengthy regulatory approvals, environmental & social assessments.
Securing massive capital amidst risks & long payback.
Complex engineering, infrastructure development.
Ramp-up, operational challenges, declining grades.
This simplified flow highlights key stages; many projects face postponements. [7, 14]
Conclusion: A Critical Mineral for a Sustainable Future
Copper’s role is transforming from an industrial staple to a strategic enabler of global decarbonization and digital expansion. The demand surge is undeniable, yet supply faces critical constraints from declining ore quality, scarce discoveries, and protracted development timelines, pointing to a significant structural deficit.
Meeting this challenge requires unprecedented capital investment, innovative solutions, and proactive policy measures to streamline development and foster a stable investment climate. The future of sustainable energy and technology is intrinsically linked to securing a reliable copper supply.
About Stellium
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For further information or for a copy of our copper report please email [email protected]
Sources & References
- [1] International Copper Study Group (ICSG) – General Industry Data
- [2] International Energy Agency (IEA) – Clean Energy Transition Data
- [3] BloombergNEF – EV Copper Intensity & Outlook
- [4] Discovery Alert – Capital Expenditure & Mining Project Data
- [5] S&P Global – Copper Market Projections & Trends
- [6] Wood Mackenzie – Copper Supply and Demand Forecasts
- [7] BHP – Future Demand Projections & Supply Challenges
- [8] Goldman Sachs – Digital Sector Copper Demand Analysis
- [9] U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) – Mineral Commodity Summaries
- [10] International Copper Study Group (ICSG) – Mine Production Statistics
- [11] CRU Group – Global Copper Market Analysis
- [12] World Mining Congress – Global Production Data
- [13] Academic studies on historical ore grades (General)
- [14] MinEx Consulting – Analysis of Copper Ore Grade Trends
- [15] IEA (International Energy Agency) – Copper Consumption Data
- [16] Wood Mackenzie – Project Sanctioning Requirements
Note: Specific data points are drawn from various reports and analyses as cited within the infographic sections.