Copper Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth and Forecast 2030

Copper Industry Prospective:

The global copper market size was worth around USD 169 billion in 2022 and is predicted to grow to around USD 259 billion by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 5.5% between 2023 and 2030.           

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Copper Market: Overview

Metals like copper are frequently alloyed with other metals. It is made by rolling copper sheets or depositing copper electrodes. It is a favored option for industrial objects because of its superior mechanical strength, durability, and electrical conductivity when compared to other metals. Excellent electrical and thermal conductivity characterizes this ductile, malleable metal. The hue of a newly exposed pure copper surface is pinkish-orange. Copper finds applications as a heat & electricity conductor, construction material, and constituent of many metal alloys, such as constantan for strain gauges, sterling silver for jewelry, and cupronickel for naval gear and coins.

Key Insights

• As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the global Copper market is estimated to grow annually at a CAGR of around 5.5% over the forecast period (2023-2030).
• In terms of revenue, the global Copper market size was valued at around USD 169 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 259 billion, by 2030.
• The growing demand for copper from the construction sector is expected to drive copper market growth over the forecast period.
• Based on grade, the oxygen-free copper segment is expected to dominate the market over the projected period.
• Based on the application, the electric vehicles segment is expected to capture a significant market share over the forecast period.
• Based on region, the Asia Pacific is expected to hold the largest market share over the forecast period.

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Copper Market: Growth Drivers

The growth in the construction industry drives market growth

The growth in the construction industry is expected to drive the global copper market growth over the forecast period. Copper's exceptional qualities, including its high electrical conductivity, resistance to corrosion, and durability, make it an indispensable material in the building sector. It enhances the efficiency, usefulness, and safety of infrastructure and buildings through a variety of construction-related uses. For instance, in January 2022, the Indian government gave its approval for the construction of 21 new airports. The Gautam Buddha Nagar region of Uttar Pradesh will host the nation's biggest airport. In the upcoming years, the Ministry of Civil Aviation plans to construct 21 more airports throughout India. At an estimated cost of USD 338 million, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) intends to build new airports as well as extend and renovate several existing airports over the next four to five years. This includes building new terminals, enlarging and modifying existing ones, and bolstering or expanding runways, technical blocks, aprons, and control towers for airport navigation services. Furthermore, three Public-Private Partnership (PPP) airports—in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Delhi—will have spent INR 30,000 crore in development plans by the year 2025.

Copper Market: Restraints

Environmental concerns hamper the market growth

The environmental effects of copper mining and extraction procedures may cause local populations and environmental groups to raise concerns. Tighter environmental laws have the potential to raise production costs and impede the opening of new mines. For instance, according to the International Energy Agency, the production of copper accounts for 0.21% of all metals' greenhouse gas emissions and uses around 600 million Gj of energy yearly. Thus, the aforementioned stats are expected to hamper the copper industry growth during the forecast period.

Copper Market: Opportunities

Growing collaboration among key players offers a lucrative opportunity for market growth

The growing collaboration among the key market players is expected to offer a lucrative opportunity for copper market growth during the forecast period. For instance, in October 2023, a memorandum of understanding was recently signed by Anglo American and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation to work together on developing a copper product offering that meets the increasing demand for metals with provenance credentials that can be verified. To identify and quantify sustainability indicators that end users and industry stakeholders feel are most important and useful, the partnership will concentrate on advancing traceability throughout the fragmented value chain of copper. The two businesses will collaborate to give these stakeholders safe access to pertinent product provenance data through technology-driven traceability solutions. To lower the overall carbon footprint of the metal supplied to clients, they also look into decarbonization options.

Copper Market: Challenges

Modern technology and the ease of finding alternatives pose a challenge to market growth

In some applications, substitute materials might pose a challenge to copper's market share. For example, the telecommunications infrastructure built on copper has been gradually degraded due to the progress made in fiber optic technology. The demand for copper may also be impacted by technical developments in energy transmission and storage systems that introduce substitute materials or lower the copper content.

Copper Market: Segmentation

The global Copper industry is segmented based on grade, form, application, end-use, and region.

Based on the grade, the global market is bifurcated into pure coppers, oxygen-free coppers, electrolytic coppers, and free-machining coppers. The oxygen-free copper segment is expected to dominate the market over the projected period. The main characteristic of OFC is its strong electrical conductivity. High-performance electrical and electronic components, such as those for power production & distribution, radio frequency (RF) systems, and high-frequency signal transmission, employ it. Because OFC has less electrical resistance due to its low oxygen concentration, it is perfect for applications where signal integrity and efficiency are essential. Thereby, driving the segment growth.

Based on the form, the global Copper industry is bifurcated into wire rods, plates, sheets and strips, tubes, bars and sections, and others.

Based on the application, the market is bifurcated into electric vehicles, wiring, motor parts, industrial machinery, roofing, pipes, solar panels, optical fibers, and others. The electric vehicles segment is expected to capture a significant market share over the forecast period. The main energy storage components of electric cars are lithium-ion batteries. Copper is used a lot in the production of these batteries. A vital component of the battery's anode and cathode, copper enhances the battery's overall performance, conductivity, and high energy density. The need for copper in battery manufacturing is rising along with the market for electric vehicles.

Based on the end-use, the copper industry is bifurcated into construction, automotive, electrical & electronics, power, telecommunication, and others.

Copper Market: Report Scope

Copper Market: Regional Analysis

Asia Pacific is expected to hold the largest market share over the forecast period

The Asia Pacific is expected to hold the largest copper market share over the forecast period. The market growth in the region is owing to the presence of major producing countries such as China. The world's top producer of copper is China. Due to its extensive mining activities, smelting capabilities, and refining capacity, the nation contributes significantly to the world's supply of copper. Important participants in the market include Chinese enterprises Jiangxi Copper, Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group, and Zijin Mining.

In addition, China is the world's largest consumer of copper as well as the biggest producer. The enormous demand for copper is driven by its growing urbanization, infrastructural expansion, and growth in the electronics & automotive sectors. The nation's consumption patterns have a significant impact on world copper prices. For instance, according to secondary analysis, China's copper consumption is set to increase by between 110,000 tonnes and 120,000 tonnes compared with an expected rise of between 50,000 tonnes and 70,000 tonnes in 2023. Moreover, the copper demand from the auto sector is set to rise by as much as 160,000 tonnes. Thus, the aforementioned facts are expected to drive market growth in the region during the forecast period.

Copper Market: Competitive Analysis

The global Copper market is dominated by players like:

• Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
• Anglo American
• First Quantum Minerals Ltd.
• Antofagasta Plc
• BHP
• Codelco
• Grupo México
• JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
• KGHM
• Jiangxi Copper Co. Ltd.
• KME GERMANY GMBH
• Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co. Ltd.
• Norilsk Nickel
• Rio Tinto
• UMMC Holding Corp.
• OM Group Inc.
• Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd.
• Teck Resources Limited
• Vale

The global Copper market is segmented as follows:

By Grade

• Pure Coppers
• Oxygen-free Coppers
• Electrolytic Coppers
• Free-machining Coppers

By Form

• Wire Rods
• Plates
• Sheets and Strips
• Tubes
• Bars and Sections
• Others

By Application

• Electric Vehicles
• Wiring
• Motor Parts
• Industrial Machinery
• Roofing
• Pipes
• Solar Panels
• Optical Fibers
• Others

By End-use

• Construction
• Automotive
• Electrical & Electronics
• Power
• Telecommunication
• Others

By Region

• North America
  • The U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • France 
  • The UK
  • Spain
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Southeast Asia
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East & Africa
  • GCC
  • South Africa
  • Rest of Middle East & Africa