There are plenty of reasons why I think BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares could be worth buying.
It is one of the largest miners in the world, it has a long history of paying dividends, and its planned expansion into potash through Jansen could add another growth pillar over time.
But if I had to pick the number one reason I would buy BHP shares today, it would be copper.
I think copper exposure is becoming the most important part of the BHP investment case.
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Copper is becoming central to the story
BHP is no longer just an iron ore giant with some other assets attached.
Copper is now a much bigger part of the business. In the first half of FY26, BHP said copper made up more than half of its underlying earnings for the first time. The company is also on track to produce between 1.9 million and 2 million tonnes of copper in FY26.
That shift is important in my opinion. Iron ore can still generate enormous cash flow, and I would not want to dismiss its value. But copper gives BHP exposure to a very different long-term demand story.
Copper is used in electrification, power networks, renewable energy, electric vehicles, data centres, and digital infrastructure. As the world uses more electricity and builds more complex technology systems, I think copper demand could keep rising for decades.
BHP's own analysis points to global copper demand growing from around 34 million tonnes a year today to more than 50 million tonnes a year by 2050. It also believes copper demand from data centres alone could grow six-fold to nearly 3 million tonnes a year by 2050.
That is the kind of structural trend I want exposure to.
Supply could be the key
The second part of the copper story is supply.
It is one thing to have rising demand. It is another thing to find enough supply to meet it.
BHP has highlighted that copper mines are getting older and grades are declining. It estimates the world will need 10 million tonnes of additional new copper supply by 2035 to balance demand.
I think this is where BHP's position becomes especially attractive.
The company says it is the world's largest copper producer and has a pathway to grow production into the 2030s, with copper growth options in Chile, Argentina, Australia, and the United States.
That combination of scale, existing production, and future growth options is hard to find.
If copper markets remain tight, I think BHP could be in a strong position to benefit.
A diversified business helps
Of course, I would not buy BHP only because of copper.
The broader portfolio is still important. BHP has iron ore, steelmaking coal, and soon potash. That diversification can support cash flow through the cycle and help fund growth investment.
This is not a small miner hoping to ride a theme. It is a global resources giant with financial strength, operating scale, and multiple ways to generate cash.
Foolish takeaway
If I were buying BHP shares today, copper would be the main reason.
The company still has plenty of other attractions, including dividends, iron ore cash flow, potash growth, and a diversified portfolio.
But copper is what makes the long-term story more interesting to me.
With demand potentially rising for decades and supply looking difficult to bring on quickly, I think BHP's copper exposure could become an increasingly valuable part of the business. For patient investors, that could make the shares well worth considering.
