Copper Price Nears Record High As Supply Crunch And AI Demand Drive $14,000 Rally
Copper prices on the London Metal Exchange rose above $14,000 a ton, nearing January’s record, as supply concerns mounted over Freeport-McMoRan’s Grasberg mine and sulfuric acid shortages. Comex copper futures in New York hit a record $6.6455 a pound. Chinese refined copper output dropped 3% in April. Freeport said Grasberg should return to full production by end-2027, despite earlier confusion over possible delays.