Copper prices surged to a record above $12,000 a metric ton, propelled by a combination of supply disruptions at key mines and sharp distortions in global trade flows tied to U.S. tariff policy under President Donald Trump.

Thieves are increasingly targeting the copper wires that keep America’s power grids and phone networks running.

Copper prices hit a fresh high on Tuesday, rallying above $12,000 per ton on the London Metal Exchange, and on track to post their biggest annual gain since 2009

Copper prices soar above $12,000 per ton due to US tariffs and mining disruptions, despite a slowdown in demand from China. Explore the factors driving this record surge.

Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) shares rose 3% yesterday to close at $50.64 per share, putting them just 8% below the May 2024 high of $54.86 and about 16% shy of the company’s all-time high just above $59 per share that it hit back in 2008.

US copper stockpiling ahead of potential tariffs is draining metal from the global market and tightening supplies worldwide.

Often viewed as a bellwether for the global industrial economy, copper traded 0.4% higher on the London Metal Exchange (LME), hovering near

Bloomberg reported on December 3 that copper prices have been rising in recent weeks, with a growing number of analysts and traders issuing warnings that, with large volumes of metal being shipped to

With year-end approaching, copper on the London Metal Exchange is up nearly 40%, marking its biggest annual gain since 2009.