Global Commodities: Copper — From tariffs to tightness
Feb 28, 2025
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The discussion dives into the dynamics of the copper market, highlighting limited supply growth amidst resilient global demand. Current slack in China's economy poses risks for near-term price pulls, but a tightening forecast looms for 2025 and 2026. The potential for inventory buildups in the U.S. adds complexity, hinting at a world short on copper. The hosts project prices could reach $10,400/mt as demand pressures intensify, setting the stage for exciting developments in the commodity landscape.
Copper prices surged due to tariff policies but may face near-term pullbacks as Chinese demand weakens post-Lunar New Year.
A projected slowdown in copper mine supply growth, alongside stable global demand, is expected to tighten the market significantly by 2025.
Deep dives
Factors Influencing Copper Prices
Copper prices have experienced a significant rise, achieving nearly a 7% increase year-to-date, largely due to market reactions to U.S.-China tariff policies. Expectations of immediate and aggressive tariffs under the Trump administration initially raised concerns, but the slower-than-anticipated implementation has eased market fears. Consequently, copper prices surged from approximately $8,800 a ton to around $9,600 by mid-February. However, despite this rally, there are cautionary signs that prices may not be fundamentally justified in the short term, particularly as Chinese demand shows signs of weakening compared to typical recovery patterns post-Lunar New Year.
Long-term Supply and Demand Dynamics
Looking ahead, the global copper market is expected to tighten considerably by 2025, driven by a slowdown in mine supply growth, projected to fall to around 1%. This supply constraint is juxtaposed against relatively stable global demand, with only a modest decline anticipated in Chinese consumption. Despite a decrease from 4% growth last year to about 2.5% for 2025 in China, there is expected to be a significant recovery in ex-Chinese demand, propelled by infrastructural projects. As market dynamics evolve, the potential for a U.S. tariff on copper imports could further shift supply flows, creating opportunities for long-term pricing stability as the market approaches a forecasted deficit by 2026.
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Copper Market Dynamics: Short-Term Pressures and Long-Term Prospects
Greg Shearer, Head of Base and Precious Metals Research
Limited copper supply growth and resilient global demand sets up a tighter forecasted refined copper market in 2H25 and 2026 and keeps us medium-term bullish on prices. While current slack in China and the potential for greater tariff headline volatility over the next month risks a near-term pullback in copper, we ultimately believe global demand will begin to stress copper balances later this year. Moreover, likely excess inventory builds in the US in the coming months ahead of a tariff on copper sets up the potential to leave the rest of the world shorter of copper than expected, driving more significant tightening to copper balances in China and Asia into the summer, setting the stage for our forecasted bullish push higher over 2H25 towards $10,400/mt.