Digging Deep

Copper's looming structural shortage comes into focus, says Cupel's Nicole Adshead-Bell

March 18, 2024 Paul Harris, Kitco Media
Copper's looming structural shortage comes into focus, says Cupel's Nicole Adshead-Bell
Digging Deep
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Digging Deep
Copper's looming structural shortage comes into focus, says Cupel's Nicole Adshead-Bell
Mar 18, 2024
Paul Harris, Kitco Media

Copper prices are at the beginning of a big run, said Cupel Advisory Director Nicole Adshead-Bell. 

On Thursday Adshead-Bell recorded Digging Deep with Kitco Correspondent Paul Harris. 

Copper had a good week, hitting a seven-month high on news that China plans to mothball loss-making smelters. Reduced supply strengthens the long-term bull case for copper, noted Adshead-Bell. 

"The price is moving now [because] market participants are finally starting to realize that there is a very material, looming structural-shortage in primary copper supply," said Adshead-Bell. 

She added that the copper breakout has been a long time coming. Energy transition and artificial intelligence is going to require a lot more copper, and years of sub-$4 a pound copper has not been enough incentive to get miners to invest in new mines. 

"I think this is the very beginning of what I would say is a parabolic rise in the copper price," said Adshead-Bell. "We need that [price] rise to incentivize new supply. Copper is the critical commodity. Without copper none of the green energy, net zero and energy transition occurs."

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this podcast do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

Show Notes

Copper prices are at the beginning of a big run, said Cupel Advisory Director Nicole Adshead-Bell. 

On Thursday Adshead-Bell recorded Digging Deep with Kitco Correspondent Paul Harris. 

Copper had a good week, hitting a seven-month high on news that China plans to mothball loss-making smelters. Reduced supply strengthens the long-term bull case for copper, noted Adshead-Bell. 

"The price is moving now [because] market participants are finally starting to realize that there is a very material, looming structural-shortage in primary copper supply," said Adshead-Bell. 

She added that the copper breakout has been a long time coming. Energy transition and artificial intelligence is going to require a lot more copper, and years of sub-$4 a pound copper has not been enough incentive to get miners to invest in new mines. 

"I think this is the very beginning of what I would say is a parabolic rise in the copper price," said Adshead-Bell. "We need that [price] rise to incentivize new supply. Copper is the critical commodity. Without copper none of the green energy, net zero and energy transition occurs."

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this podcast do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.