An extra $100 billion worth of copper projects would need to be approved and completed before the end of the decade to match the exploding growth in demand for the bellwether metal.
That is the view of investment bank UBS, which sees an “increasingly compelling” medium-term outlook for copper due to the lack of funds flowing through to support new mines and the robust demand outlook.
Copper — considered to be the most cost-effective conductive material — is a critical part of the shift to to renewable technologies due to its use in solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and EV infrastructure.
UBS in a note to clients said that despite the easing of COVID restrictions and generally healthy returns for copper projects, the limited pick-up in new mine approvals was increasing the probability of a sharp slowdown in mine supply growth in 2025-26.
It estimated adjusted total 2023 copper capex was about 15 per cent below the peak of the last cycle in 2012-13.
CYM Price at posting:
11.0¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
