Global copper demand outstrips supply, threatening electrification and industrial growth

There’s lots of copper in the ground, but demand is already outstripping usable supply – and the shortfall is likely to get worse.

By: Morgan Bazilian, Colorado School of Mines and Adam Charles Simon, University of Michigan, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 19, 2026

Words: 1,370

Last Updated: 1 day, 18 hours ago

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By Morgan Bazilian, Colorado School of Mines and Adam Charles Simon, University of Michigan

Demand for copper is surging because of demand from new technologies, but suppliers are struggling to keep up, and they are likely to fall further behind in the coming years, resulting in shortfalls globally. Even though copper prices are at historically high levels, the financial risk involved in mining means that prices will need to go much higher before mining companies see …

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