What is Copper?
Copper is a base metal critical to electrical wiring, construction, plumbing, electronics, and electric vehicles. Global pricing is set on the London Metal Exchange (LME) and COMEX. Top producing countries: Chile (~25% of global supply), Peru, China, US, DRC. China is the largest consumer (~50% of global demand).
Why it matters for investors
Copper has earned the nickname "Dr. Copper" because its broad industrial use makes it a real-time gauge of economic activity. The energy transition (EVs, wind, solar, grid expansion) creates a structural demand tailwind — an EV uses ~4x more copper than an internal-combustion vehicle. Supply is constrained by limited new mine development.