Copper — The AI Bottleneck
Copper is the irreplaceable conductor of electrification and the AI buildout, where structurally slow new-mine supply collides with demand from data centers, the grid and EVs.
The story
Copper has become a gating input for the same forces driving the AI cycle: data-center power and cooling, grid expansion to feed that compute, and vehicle electrification all consume the metal at scale. The IEA warns the existing mine project pipeline points to a roughly 30% supply shortfall by 2035, because new copper mines now take an average of about 17.9 years from discovery to production and major discoveries have grown sparse. The result is a market that flips from modest surplus in 2025 toward deficits in 2026 and beyond, with supply unable to respond quickly to a multi-decade demand pull.
The outlook to 2030
Between 2026 and 2030, copper-specific AI demand scales sharply: Wood Mackenzie estimates AI infrastructure alone could require roughly 1.1 Mtpa of grid-related copper by 2030, while data-center copper use is modeled to average around 400,000 tonnes a year over the next decade and peak near 572,000 tonnes in 2028 (Macquarie). With mine output projected to decline after the late 2020s and demand rising toward the mid-30s Mt range, the market structure favors low-cost incumbent producers and brownfield expansions over speculative greenfield supply. The strategic question shifts from price level to volume security — who can actually deliver tonnes.
What is moving the capital
The forces routing money into this theme right now.
Market flips to deficit in 2026
The ICSG now forecasts the refined copper market to swing from surplus in 2025 to a roughly 150,000-tonne deficit in 2026 as refined production growth slows to about 0.9%.
AI data-center copper demand ramp
Wood Mackenzie sees AI infrastructure needing about 1.1 Mtpa of grid-related copper by 2030, while Macquarie models data-center copper use peaking near 572,000 tonnes in 2028.
Structural 2035 supply shortfall
The IEA warns the current mine pipeline could leave roughly a 30% copper supply shortfall by 2035, driven by declining ore grades, long lead times and sparse new discoveries.
Major producer consolidation (Anglo-Teck)
The Anglo American-Teck merger of equals, shareholder-approved in December 2025, would form Anglo Teck, a top-five global copper producer with more than 70% copper exposure.
The leaders
Structural large-cap anchors — lower-variance exposure to the theme.
Freeport-McMoRan, one of the world's largest publicly traded copper producers, stands to benefit from surging demand driven by AI infrastructure and electrification; its long-lived assets and growth options position it as a key player in meeting future copper needs.
Why the excitement: Management sees rising copper demand associated with massive requirements for the power grid to support new technologies, with demand signals remaining strong from AI data centers and related energy infrastructure.
The honest risk: The ramp-up at Grasberg faces challenges with material handling bottlenecks, potentially impacting production forecasts and profitability.
Southern Copper offers direct exposure to rising copper demand from AI infrastructure and electrification, underpinned by substantial reserves and low production costs. SCCO's operational efficiency and expansion projects position it as a core holding in the copper space.
Why the excitement: Southern Copper's Q4 FY2025 adjusted EBITDA margin reached 60%, reflecting robust operational efficiency and strong byproduct revenue credits.
The honest risk: A 4.7% decrease in expected copper production for 2026, as stated in the Q4 FY2025 earnings call, could impact near-term revenue.
BHP offers investors a lower-volatility avenue to capitalize on the growing copper demand driven by AI infrastructure and the energy transition, leveraging its diversified portfolio and expanding copper production.
Why the excitement: BHP management raised copper production guidance for this year and next, targeting around 2.5 million tonnes of copper equivalent per year by the mid-2030s.
The honest risk: Despite BHP's diversification, a significant and prolonged decline in commodity prices could impact free cash flow generation.
Asymmetric plays
Smaller names with higher upside and deeper potential drawdowns.
Ero Copper offers investors a higher-beta play on copper demand driven by AI infrastructure and electrification, with significant production growth potential. The company's Furnas project positions it for long-term expansion at a favorable point in the commodity cycle.
Why the excitement: Management expects sustained operational performance gains achieved in Q4 2025 to continue through 2026, driving increased copper production.
The honest risk: As a smaller copper miner, Ero Copper carries higher execution risk on growth projects and greater sensitivity to copper price volatility.
Asymmetry: Large upside on copper price and output growth; deep drawdown on operational or commodity-price setbacks.
Hudbay Minerals offers leveraged exposure to the looming copper supply-demand gap, driven by AI infrastructure buildout. With development assets and a focus on cost control, Hudbay is positioned to capitalize on increased copper demand.
Why the excitement: Hudbay achieved record revenues of $757 million and record adjusted EBITDA of $422 million in Q1 FY2026, demonstrating strong operational performance and margin expansion.
The honest risk: Hudbay's growth projects, while promising, carry execution risk and are subject to permitting and jurisdictional uncertainties.
Asymmetry: High upside on project execution; sharp drawdown given commodity and balance-sheet sensitivity.
Taseko Mines offers investors a higher-beta, small-cap play on rising copper prices, driven by AI infrastructure buildout and production growth from the Florence project. However, execution risk remains a key consideration.
Why the excitement: Florence Copper's initial wellfield performance exceeded expectations, with solution grades reaching targeted levels faster than planned, signaling de-risking.
The honest risk: Operating cost increases at Gibraltar, with C1 cash costs rising to $2.63 US per pound, highlight potential margin pressure.
Asymmetry: Large upside on copper price and output growth; deep drawdown on operational or commodity-price setbacks.
Inside the theme
The sub-layers and the leaders that anchor each one.
Frequently asked questions
Why is copper an AI theme?
AI data centers and the grid that powers them use far more copper than traditional infrastructure, while new mine supply takes about a decade to build — a structural supply-demand gap that supports copper prices.
Majors or smaller miners?
Majors like Freeport and Southern Copper offer lower-volatility, high-margin exposure; smaller miners such as Ero Copper and Hudbay carry higher asymmetry tied to copper price and production growth.
What about royalty and streaming companies?
Royalty and streaming names give exposure to copper price upside with less operational and cost risk than running a mine, making them a lower-variance way to play the same trend.
How does the MoonshotScore evaluate this theme?
It weights margin and cash strength, reserve quality and production growth — favoring low-cost, long-life producers over single-asset developers.
What is the main risk?
Copper is cyclical: a global growth slowdown, a stronger dollar, or new supply coming online faster than expected can pressure prices and miner earnings sharply.
Research sources
- International Copper Study Group (ICSG) — ICSG Copper Market Forecast 2025-2026 (press release)
- Mining Weekly — Copper market expected to be in surplus in 2025 followed by deficit in 2026, ICSG says
- S&P Global (Platts) — Copper faces 30% supply deficit by 2035, IEA warns at UK summit
- Wood Mackenzie — Soaring copper demand an obstacle to future growth (Horizons report)
- U.S. Global Investors — AI Data Centers Could Consume Half a Million Tons of Copper Annually by 2030 (Macquarie estimates)
- Goldman Sachs — Copper Prices Are Forecast to Decline Somewhat from Record Highs in 2026
- Mining Visuals / S&P Global Market Intelligence — Copper Mines: Average Time from Discovery to Production is 17.9 Years (S&P Global data)
- Anglo American — Anglo American and Teck to combine through a merger of equals to form a global critical minerals champion
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Educational content, not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.