AI Data Center Boom Exacerbates Copper Supply Tightness

Published: Dec 15, 2025 09:29

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AI data center construction is creating unexpected incremental demand for copper. By 2026, data centers alone are projected to consume a significant share of global copper supply. With new mine commissioning being slow, scrap copper recycling will be the fastest and most critical way to fill this demand gap, with high-grade scrap expected to face direct competition from the tech sector.

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