Industrial metals · HG-SPOT

Copper price

US$6.41 / pound
≈ €5.45 ≈ £4.78 Unchanged 24h 88% within the 52-week range
FX Editorial Team · Data updated: · Editorially verified
Copper (HG-SPOT) price today US$6.41 / pound, ↑ +0.00% (24h)

Copper chart

Interactive chart and 30-day overview

7 days
▲ +1.58%
+US$0.1000
30 days
▲ +4.74%
+US$0.2900
1 year
▲ +32.71%
+US$1.58
52-week range
US$4.32 88% US$6.70
Copper (HG-SPOT) 30-day price chart — USD, EUR, GBP

The Copper chart shows how the copper price has moved over time. The interactive view lets you switch the timeframe (from 7 days up to MAX), the currency (USD / EUR / GBP) and overlay moving averages. Click any two points to measure the percentage change between those dates.

What drives the copper price?

Copper is the most widely used raw material among industrial metals. About 50% of global copper consumption goes to China, where construction, power grids and electric-vehicle (EV) manufacturing are the main end-users. An electric car contains about 80 kg of copper, compared with roughly 20 kg in an internal-combustion car. The energy transition — EV adoption, renewable power and grid expansion — is a durable source of demand. Market jargon calls copper "Dr. Copper" because its price is one of the better gauges of the global industrial cycle.

On the supply side, Chilean and Peruvian mining dominate. Chile produces about 5.5 million tonnes a year, led by Codelco and BHP's Escondida. Peru produces about 2.4 million tonnes. Global mine output is roughly 22 million tonnes a year. Ore grades at major operating mines continue to decline. Average copper content has fallen below 0.5%, compared with more than 1% decades ago. That means more rock, more energy and higher unit costs for the same amount of metal, which structurally lifts the cost base.

In the short term, inventory levels move the price. Weekly warehouse data from the London Metal Exchange (LME), the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) and COMEX give a direct read on market tightness. Low inventories and strong Chinese demand data usually support prices. High warehouse stocks and weak manufacturing PMI readings tend to weigh on the market. The dollar and global real interest rates also affect copper, although less than they affect gold.

How to invest in copper

A European retail investor can get copper exposure in several ways. A copper CFD is the most direct form: a leveraged product based on the COMEX HG price that can be traded in both directions, but carries high risk. A copper miners ETF/ETP, such as a European UCITS-compliant copper mining fund, is one step removed from the underlying commodity and offers a diversified basket of mining companies. Among single stocks, market leader Freeport-McMoRan (FCX), Southern Copper (SCCO), Chile's Antofagasta and Switzerland's Glencore are among the most actively traded names. These stocks give operational leverage to the copper price. Physical copper is not common as a retail investment product because storage costs and the metal's low value per unit make it uneconomic.

30-day price history

Chart and daily closing prices

Copper (HG-SPOT) 30-day price chart — USD, EUR, GBP

Daily close

30 trading days

Date Price (USD) Price (EUR) Price (GBP) Daily change
23 May 2026 US$6.41 €5.45 £4.78 ▲ +0.16%
22 May 2026 US$6.40 €5.44 £4.77 ▲ +1.27%
21 May 2026 US$6.32 €5.37 £4.71 ▼ −0.47%
20 May 2026 US$6.35 €5.40 £4.73 ▲ +2.25%
19 May 2026 US$6.21 €5.28 £4.63 ▼ −1.90%
18 May 2026 US$6.33 €5.38 £4.72 ▲ +0.32%
15 May 2026 US$6.31 €5.37 £4.70 ▼ −4.54%
14 May 2026 US$6.61 €5.62 £4.93 ▼ −1.34%
13 May 2026 US$6.70 €5.70 £4.99 ▲ +2.29%
12 May 2026 US$6.55 €5.57 £4.88 ▲ +0.61%
11 May 2026 US$6.51 €5.54 £4.85 ▲ +3.33%
10 May 2026 US$6.30 €5.36 £4.70 ▲ +1.61%
6 May 2026 US$6.20 €5.27 £4.62 ▲ +2.99%
5 May 2026 US$6.02 €5.12 £4.49 ▲ +2.91%
4 May 2026 US$5.85 €4.98 £4.36 ▼ −2.01%
2 May 2026 US$5.97 €5.08 £4.45 ▼ −0.17%
1 May 2026 US$5.98 €5.09 £4.46 ▲ +0.17%
30 Apr 2026 US$5.97 €5.08 £4.45 ▼ −0.17%
29 Apr 2026 US$5.98 €5.09 £4.46 ▼ −1.81%
28 Apr 2026 US$6.09 €5.18 £4.54 ▲ +0.50%
27 Apr 2026 US$6.06 €5.15 £4.52 ▼ −0.49%
25 Apr 2026 US$6.09 €5.18 £4.54 ▼ −0.49%
21 Apr 2026 US$6.12 €5.20 £4.56 ▲ +0.82%
20 Apr 2026 US$6.07 €5.16 £4.52 —

Copper FAQ

How much does 1 kg of copper cost? +
Copper is quoted internationally in pounds (Lb) on the US COMEX and in tonnes on the London Metal Exchange. Using an example price of USD 4.50 per pound, 1 kilogram of copper is worth about USD 9.92 (1 / 0.453592 × 4.50). In local scrap markets, purchase prices are lower because dealers price lots according to purity, alloy content and logistics.
What is the price of 1 tonne of copper? +
At an example price of USD 4.50 per pound, 1 tonne of copper is worth about USD 9,921 (2,204.62 pounds × 4.50). The official LME quote is available directly in USD per tonne. It is the reference for global physical trading and long-term procurement contracts.
Why is copper called "Dr. Copper"? +
Market jargon refers to copper as "Dr. Copper" because the metal is one of the better indicators of global industrial activity, as if it had a PhD in economics. Construction, power grids, carmakers and manufacturers all use large quantities of copper. A rising copper price can signal industrial expansion, while a falling price can point to a slowdown. Its correlation with global PMI indicators and Chinese manufacturing data has historically been strong.
What drives the copper price? +
Four main factors matter: Chinese demand (about 50% of global consumption, across construction, power grids and EV production), Chilean and Peruvian supply (about 35% of global mine output), the energy transition (EVs use 3-4 times more copper than petrol cars, alongside wind and solar power and grid expansion), and inventory levels in LME, SHFE and COMEX warehouses. The strength of the dollar and global real interest rates also have a secondary influence.
How can I buy copper for investment exposure? +
There are four main routes for a European retail investor: copper CFDs (direct leveraged price exposure, with high risk), copper miners ETF/ETP (a European UCITS-compliant fund with a diversified mining basket), individual copper mining stocks (Freeport-McMoRan FCX, Southern Copper SCCO, Antofagasta, Glencore), and broad commodity ETFs with indirect exposure. Physical copper is not practical as a retail investment because of its low value per unit and high storage costs.
What is the difference between COMEX HG and LME copper? +
COMEX HG is the copper futures contract run by the US CME Group. It is quoted in US dollars per pound, with a contract size of 25,000 pounds. LME Copper is the London Metal Exchange contract quoted in USD per tonne, with a 25-tonne lot size. COMEX is more associated with financial and speculative liquidity. LME is the reference for physical delivery and global industrial procurement. Continuous arbitrage between the two markets keeps prices close.
What does declining ore grade mean? +
Ore grade shows what percentage of copper is contained in mined rock. Decades ago, major Chilean and US deposits often had grades of 1-2%. The industry average has since fallen to around 0.5%. This means twice as much rock must be moved to produce the same amount of copper, increasing energy use, chemical use, waste handling and unit costs. It is a structural source of upward pressure on the cost base.
How is profit from copper investments taxed? +
Tax treatment varies by jurisdiction; consult a local tax adviser.

More industrial metals

Aluminium
US$3,668
tonne
Zinc
US$3,542
tonne
Nickel
US$18,880
tonne
Tin
US$53,248
tonne
Data sources: London Metal Exchange — LME Copper · CME Group — COMEX HG Copper Futures · USGS — Mineral Commodity Summaries: Copper · International Copper Study Group (ICSG)