Copper Demand Skyrockets as India Expands Data Centre Infrastructure

India's rapid expansion of data centre infrastructure is driving a surge in demand for copper, the red metal critical to powering digital infrastructure. With over fourfold growth in just six years, India's data centre capacity has increased from around 375 MW in 2020 to approximately 1,500 MW in 2025.

Copper plays an essential role in handling growing digital workloads and power requirements, according to Mayur Karmarkar, Managing Director of the International Copper Association India. He noted that copper's unique properties, such as high electrical conductivity, durability, and thermal efficiency, make it a key material for future data centres.

The demand for copper is expected to increase significantly, with estimates suggesting that over 4.3 million tonnes of copper could be needed by 2035. With India's data centre capacity projected to nearly double by 2027 and reach 12 GW by 2030, securing a steady supply of copper will be crucial to meeting this demand.