Market › Copper
Copper: price today and performance
The price of copper, the gauge of world industry: today's price, performance over 1, 5 and 10 years and what moves it.
Performance of copper
Returns of copper
| Copper (dollars per pound) | MSCI World (in euros) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +31.0% | +17.4% |
| 3 years (a year) | +21.2% | +20.7% |
| 5 years (a year) | +8.7% | +11.6% |
| 10 years (a year) | +11.7% | +12.9% |
Monthly closes. Past returns do not guarantee future results. Data up to October 2026.
What it is
The copper future on the New York commodities exchange (COMEX) is tracked, in dollars per pound (454 grams). It is used in cables, motors, construction and electronics, and is called “Doctor Copper” because it anticipates the economy.
What moves it
Demand from China, which consumes about half the world's copper; electrification (electric cars, grids and renewables); problems at the big mines in Chile, Peru or Congo; and the dollar.
How to invest
Through ETCs that track its price or through shares and ETFs of mining companies, which usually move more sharply than the metal.
Compare what each broker charges to buy ETFs and ETCs →Frequently asked questions
Why is it called “Doctor Copper”?
Because it is used in almost every industry: its price tends to rise when the economy speeds up and fall ahead of a recession.
What does copper have to do with electric cars?
An electric car carries several times more copper than a petrol one, and grids and renewables need it too.
What is a pound?
An imperial unit of weight: 454 grams.
Other markets
General information with market data, not investment advice. Past returns do not guarantee future results.