Copper’s tight supply and tariff risks set for a volatile 2026

(Image: MINING.COM) View: Source Copper’s record-breaking 2025 has set up a tight but fragile market heading into 2026 as supply strains deepen, tariff fears distort trade flows and analysts flag long-term deficits. With only a few trading days left in the year on the London Metal Exchange, copper is up nearly 40%, marking its largest annual gain since 2009. They surged past …

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Where is Copper Heading in 2026?

View: Source I asked if copper was setting a base for a new high in a November 18, 2025, Barchart article, where I concluded with the following: I expect copper prices to continue their upward trajectory as technical and fundamental factors support the red nonferrous metal. However, long copper exposure through the CPER ETF during price corrections has been optimal, and that …

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Copper Prices Rise on Supply Concerns

View: Source Tight supply and resilient demand drive copper market despite economic headwinds Copper prices have increased as market participants focus on potential supply constraints in the coming year. According to ANZ, renewed disruptions and consistently strong demand are counteracting broader concerns surrounding the global economy. The bank observed that markets largely disregarded weaker-than-expected economic data from China, including a 1.3 …

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Indonesia may slash nickel output to steady prices

Nickel smelter in Sorowako, Indonesia. Credit: Marcelo Coelho, courtesy of Vale View: Source Indonesia, the world’s top nickel producer, might reduce production by one-third in 2026 to keep prices from declining further. In its 2026 Work Plan and Budget, the Indonesian government is proposing a 34% reduction in production from this year’s total to 250 million tonnes next year, the Shanghai …

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Copper Prices Surge Toward $12,000 on AI Demand and Supply Chaos

View: Source Copper prices hit record highs, fueled by a “perfect storm” of supply disruptions, high demand from AI data centers and the energy transition, and a market distortion caused by U.S. trade policy fears. Major financial institutions are aggressively revising their forecasts, with Citi predicting copper could reach $15,000 per ton by the second quarter of next year due to …

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Potash, platinum and copper stand out for long-term value

View: Source Three long-life mining assets anchor a set of commodity ideas built around tightening supply conditions and improving demand signals. The opportunities span potash, platinum and copper, each showing potential pricing upside over the coming years. BNN Bloomberg spoke with Taylor McKenna, analyst at Kopernik Global Investors, who outlined his case for K+S, Valterra Platinum Holdings and Glencore as compelling …

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Will 2026 Be a Year of Silver & Copper ETFs?

View: Source Silver and copper have surpassed gold as the standout metals heading into 2026, with both institutional and retail investors positioning for record-breaking rallies. iShares Silver Trust (SLV Quick QuoteSLV – Free Report) has gained about 96% so far this year, while United States Copper ETF (CPER Quick QuoteCPER – Free Report) has advanced about 31.7%. Over the past one month, CPER has gained 5.2%, SLV has surged …

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New copper demand drivers from US, India as China juggernaut slows

View: Source Copper consumption in the United States and India is set to emerge from China’s shadow over the next decade as demand growth in the world’s largest consumer of the industrial metal slows. Beijing’s industrial and infrastructure expansion has helped fuel a rally that has seen copper prices rise to above $10,000 a metric ton from $1,500 25 years ago. …

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