Copper Prices Soar Amid AI Boom and Supply Crunch

Copper has hit record highs in 2026 and is currently up 15% since the start of the year, trading above $14,300 a ton on the London Metal Exchange.

Analysts at S&P Global project copper demand will rise 50% to 42 million metric tons by 2040 from 28 million tons last year, while supply is looking increasingly tight with a projected supply deficit of 10 million metric tons by 2040.

Jon Lapp, founder and financial planner of Haven Financial Advisors, recommends limiting a dedicated copper allocation to 1% to 3% of a portfolio, with 5% as an upper limit for someone with a high risk tolerance.