Why Copper Matters
Copper is often called "Dr. Copper" because its price is considered a barometer of global economic health:
- Electrical: ~65% of copper is used in electrical applications (wiring, motors, transformers)
- Construction: Plumbing, roofing, and architectural elements
- Transportation: Each electric vehicle uses 3-4x more copper than conventional cars
- Renewable Energy: Wind turbines and solar panels are copper-intensive
- Electronics: Circuit boards, connectors, and semiconductors
Copper Market Benchmarks
Copper is traded on multiple global exchanges:
- LME (London Metal Exchange): The world's primary copper futures market
- COMEX (CME Group): Major US copper futures exchange
- SHFE (Shanghai Futures Exchange): Key Asian copper market
Copper Grades
Copper is sold in various grades depending on purity:
- Grade A Cathode: 99.99% pure - LME deliverable standard
- Electrolytic Copper: 99.9%+ pure - Electrical applications
- Fire-Refined: 99.5-99.9% pure - General industrial use
- Scrap Copper: Variable purity - Recycled from wire, plumbing, etc.