Copper Prices Expected to Ease from Record Highs in 2026

Forecasts from leading global financial institutions indicate that copper prices may experience a slight decline in 2026 after reaching record highs at the end of 2025, despite strong long-term structural demand for the metal. This expected softening comes amid the continued presence of a global supply surplus.

According to recent research reports, the surge in copper prices during the current year was driven by several factors, most notably lower interest rates, a weaker U.S. dollar, and improved expectations for China’s economic growth, in addition to supply chain disruptions and increased spending on energy infrastructure and artificial intelligence.

After copper prices surpassed USD 11,700 per metric ton in December 2025, estimates suggest that prices in 2026 will trade within a range of USD 10,000 to USD 11,000 per ton, with limited ability to remain above these levels for extended periods due to oversupply conditions.

Gradual Rebalancing Between Supply and Demand

Despite a global copper market surplus in 2025, projections indicate that limited growth in mine supply, combined with rising demand from power grids, renewable energy, and industrial infrastructure, could lead to a more balanced market during 2026 and beyond.

Over the long term, market analysts expect the upward price trend to continue, with copper potentially reaching significantly higher levels by 2035, supported by the global transition to clean energy, expansion of electrical networks, and growing reliance on advanced technologies.

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Factors That May Influence Prices in the Coming Period

Key factors that could impact copper prices include:

• Potential U.S. tariffs on refined copper imports
• Rising demand linked to energy and infrastructure projects
• Increasing global investment in artificial intelligence and defense industries
• Movements in the U.S. dollar and global interest rates
  
  

Forecasts suggest that any price decline is likely to be temporary, followed by a renewed upward trajectory in the medium to long term.

What Does This Mean for Industry?

For the industrial sector, these expectations highlight the importance of flexible raw material cost management and taking advantage of price pullbacks for strategic stockpiling and production planning—particularly in industries heavily dependent on copper, such as electrical manufacturing, engineering industries, and metalworking.

If your production line is facing:

• Rising raw material costs impacting pricing strategies
• Difficulty forecasting long-term production costs
• Increased pressure on profit margins due to price fluctuations
• The need to minimize material waste and maximize copper utilization
  
  

Then adopting efficient, precision-driven manufacturing is no longer optional—it is a competitive necessity.

Entag… Your Partner in Maximizing Raw Material Value

At Entag, we help manufacturers turn raw material price volatility into a strategic advantage through an integrated manufacturing ecosystem that includes:

• High-precision CNC machining to reduce material waste
• Smart manufacturing strategies to lower part cost
• Design-for-manufacturing optimization to maximize copper and metal utilization
• Seamless integration between engineering and production for greater cost control
  
  

We don’t just provide manufacturing services. We help manufacturers across Egypt and the region protect their industrial investments and strengthen competitiveness, regardless of market conditions.

Contact Entag’s expert team today to learn how smart manufacturing can safeguard your production line and elevate performance in a volatile metals market.

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