【SMM Copper Flash News】Recycled copper could be the key to global energy transition

Published: Oct 1, 2025 15:25

Save

As the global energy transition accelerates, the imbalance between copper supply and demand is becoming increasingly prominent. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA)'s "Net Zero Emissions 2050 Scenario," half of copper demand will be used for clean energy technologies by 2040, and global copper demand is projected to increase by over 50% by 2050. Clean energy power systems demand copper 6-12 times more than fossil fuel-based systems, while a single electric vehicle uses 2-3 times more copper than a traditional fuel vehicle. However, significantly increasing copper mining in the short term faces numerous challenges: On the one hand, the development cycle of deep mines is lengthy; on the other hand, the approval process for new mines is slow. Furthermore, the quality of copper ore in existing mines continues to decline, leading to rising energy and water consumption during mining. Amidst this increasingly pronounced imbalance between copper supply and demand, recycling and reuse may become a key path to a breakthrough.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or for more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn

For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn

Related News

3 hours ago

Copper Prices Drop: SMM Enterprises Restock Raw Materials, Finished Product Inventories Decline

On the inventory side of SMM copper wire and cable enterprises this week, companies restocked raw materials on dips, primarily by first locking in prices and then picking up goods as needed, without large-scale stockpiling, sending raw material inventories up 2.71% WoW. When copper prices initially fell, downstream customers concentrated on cargo pick-up, driving destocking of finished product inventories. The market then held a wait-and-see stance, and finished product inventories fell 1.86% WoW.

3 hours ago

Copper Wire and Cable SMM Operating Rate Rises to 70.38%, Orders Stabilize Amid Price Declines

The SMM operating rate of copper wire and cable enterprises recorded 70.38% this week, up 1.11 percentage points WoW and up 0.2 percentage points YoY. The decline in copper prices during the week slightly stimulated new orders, but end-users generally waited for lower purchase prices, with strong wait-and-see sentiment, limiting the boost from price declines on orders.

3 hours ago

7 hours ago

Bensteel Machinery Company (Hengtai) Double Groove Hook Copper Wire Procurement Tender Announcement

7 hours ago