About Copper (HG)

Copper was first mined and worked about 7,000 years ago. It's softness, color, and presence in nature enabled it to be easily mined and fashioned into primitive utensils, tools, and weapons. Five thousand years ago man learned to alloy copper with tin, producing bronze and giving rise to a new age.

Today, copper is used in highly cyclical industries such as construction and industrial machinery manufacturing. Demand is extremely sensitive to the macro economic factors such as interest rates and income levels as the major users are from extremely cyclical industries. The construction industry accounts for roughly 15 percent of the total US demand, as copper is used in piping, roofs, plumbing fixtures, hardware, and for decorative purposes. The transportation industry uses copper to manufacture motors and turbines in automobiles, rail, and aircraft applications. Jewelry demand accounts for roughly nine percent of total domestic use. The predominant use of copper comes from the electronics industry which uses copper in motors, power generators, batteries, fans, and heating and air conditioning .

The leading world producers of Copper are Chile, and the United States.

» Click here to learn more about Copper Prices
» Click Here for Copper Quotes
» Back to Commodity Info Index