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Author bio
Bronwyn has 30 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and media relations. She began her career as a reporter with News Corporation in Sydney in 1997. She later worked for two real estate corporations in communications and PR roles, then started her own freelance copywriting, editing, and publicity business. A keen shares investor, Bronwyn joined the Motley Fool Australia team as a copy editor and writer in 2021.
Areas of expertise
ASX shares and ETFs
News writing
Macroeconomic trends
Real estate
Education
Diploma in Journalism, Macleay College
Social mediaLinkedInFavourite investment quote
"Don't look for the needle in the haystack. Just buy the haystack."
— John C. Bogle, Vanguard founder and pioneer of index investing for ordinary investors
Published
The rising copper price was a key driver in BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) taking back its crown as the market's biggest company in May.
BHP, once known predominantly for its world-class iron ore operations, is now the world's largest copper producer.
Copper now makes up more than half of BHP's earnings amid soaring global demand for the red metal.
Copper is essential to electrification and has long been a cornerstone of construction, appliances, machinery, and industrial activity.
Its importance is growing further today due to the global green energy transition.
Copper is used in wind turbines, data centres, electric vehicles, robotics, digital telecommunications, and advanced defence systems.
In CY25, the spot copper price streaked 42% higher.
In CY26-to-date, spot copper is up another 12% to US$14,048.52 today.
The spot copper price reached an all-time high of US$14,973.58 per tonne on 9 September.
One of the key factors impacting the copper price this year has been the artificial intelligence (AI) build-out.
The copper price tends to move in line with market sentiment on AI, data centres, and geopolitical factors.
On Tuesday, Trading Economics analysts said the copper price was stronger due to easing concerns over potentially tighter Democrat-led AI industry regulations, and a lower chance of tariffs on imports.
The analysts said:
Copper benefits directly from the global AI expansion due to its essential role in data centers and power generation.
Additionally, the Democrats' sweeping midterm victory reduced the likelihood of Trump's proposed tariffs on refined copper.
Heightened demand has driven ASX copper shares higher over the past two years.
And official forecasts show the average annual copper price is set to rise this year.
