Copper’s importance begins with its role in electrical systems. It connects power generation, transmission and the equipment that uses electricity. For scrap suppliers, the practical question is how that role could influence demand for recovered material.
Demand is tied to investment in electricity
Electricity networks, clean-energy technologies and industrial electrification create demand for copper-bearing equipment. Data centres add another area of investment in electrical infrastructure. The scale and timing of those projects matter more than the headline alone.
The supply outlook remains constrained
The IEA’s 2026 Global Critical Minerals Outlook projects a copper supply gap of about 25% in 2035 based on announced projects and its scenario assumptions. That gap is smaller than the previous year’s estimate as new projects advance. It is a conditional projection, not a measured shortage today.
Why prices could move higher
If demand expands faster than available supply, buyers may compete more aggressively for material. Delayed projects and production interruptions can also tighten availability. This is the commercial case for higher prices, but it depends on how both sides of the market develop.
What could push prices down?
New supply, stronger recycling flows, substitution and weaker industrial demand can ease market pressure. The IEA’s narrower projected supply gap is itself a reminder that the outlook changes. A long-term demand story does not mean copper rises in a straight line.
What it means for scrap suppliers
Keep track of both the copper benchmark and the actual price offered for your material grade. Insulation, contamination, recovery and commercial terms affect the offer. For Bravus Metals, the opportunity is to develop reliable scrap supply relationships and return recoverable copper to the material chain.
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