Aluminium prices
Transport · Packaging · Construction
View the reference price, historical chart and source details.Copper price and historical chart
The latest available copper reference is $14,326.00 USD per metric tonne for August 2026. Latest monthly release. It is a monthly average from World Bank Pink Sheet.
Copper is an industrial benchmark normally quoted per metric tonne. Prices depend on grade, location and delivery; refined copper prices are not scrap-yard offers.
Monthly average
$14,326.00
USD / tonneLoading
World Bank Pink SheetDownload USD history ↓
Historical currency views use the latest reference FX, not date-matched historical exchange rates.
Check another metal’s price.
Explore related markets or compare their price movements with copper.
Nickel prices
Stainless steel · Batteries · Alloys
View the reference price, historical chart and source details.
Zinc prices
Galvanising · Die casting · Alloys
View the reference price, historical chart and source details.Behind the chart.
Data methodology →This chart separates the source observation, its period and its published unit from later currency or weight conversions.
What this price represents
Copper is an industrial benchmark normally quoted per metric tonne. Prices depend on grade, location and delivery; refined copper prices are not scrap-yard offers.
Monthly observations are nominal USD averages from the World Bank Pink Sheet where available; palladium uses means of stored daily references. Yearly values are means of the available monthly averages, with incomplete periods labelled. Period averages describe the stated interval, not a current executable quote. Currency and weight conversions change the display, not the underlying specification.
What a physical transaction may cost
Grade, delivery location, fabrication, taxes and dealer spreads can change a real offer. Use a matching specification and period when comparing prices.
Recent observations
| Period | USD / tonne |
|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | 14,326.00 |
| Jul 2026 | 13,543.00 |
| Jun 2026 | 13,552.00 |
| May 2026 | 13,543.00 |
| Apr 2026 | 12,951.00 |
| Mar 2026 | 12,529.00 |
| Feb 2026 | 12,951.00 |
| Jan 2026 | 13,012.00 |
| Dec 2025 | 11,785.00 |
| Nov 2025 | 10,812.00 |
| Oct 2025 | 10,740.00 |
| Sep 2025 | 9,984.00 |
The selected period in numbers.
monthly observations · 2021-08-01 to 2026-08-01 · USD / tonne · World Bank Pink Sheet
Lowest observation7,545
Highest observation14,326
Mean observation9,689.1
Stored observations61
First-to-last change52.89%
High and low mean the highest and lowest stored observations, not intraday trading extremes. The mean is an unweighted average of those observations. Missing dates are not filled in.
Copper by weight.
Custom weight & purity →Common fine-metal weights
Uses the latest reference of the frequency selected above. Values exclude product premiums and fees.
| Fine weight | Reference value (USD) |
|---|---|
| 1 gram | 0.01 |
| 10 grams | 0.14 |
| 1 troy ounce | 0.45 |
| 100 grams | 1.43 |
| 1 kilogram | 14.33 |
Fine weight versus gross weight
The reference values assume the entire weight is the specified metal. For an alloy, multiply net metal weight by its fineness divided by 1,000 before applying a fine-metal price. Deduct stones or non-metal parts first. A plated item cannot be valued as though all its weight were the surface metal.
A troy ounce is 31.1034768 grams. An ordinary ounce is 28.349523125 grams. A metric tonne is 1,000 kilograms. Use the weight worksheet to compare units or an entire batch.
For a purchase, compare the invoice with the premium calculator. For recovered metal, review deductions in the scrap payout calculator.
Refined copper, delivered material and scrap
The copper reference is a refined-metal benchmark, normally published per metric tonne. It is a starting point for understanding broad movements rather than a quote for a cable reel, a fabricated component or a mixed scrap load. Converting the price to kilograms changes the mass basis but does not change the material specification.
Electrical and construction demand
Copper is used in power cables, motors and construction. Activity in these applications provides context for demand, though no single application explains every movement.
Processing and supply
Mining, refining and recycling affect available material. A refined benchmark does not value ore or mixed recovered metal directly.
Delivery and quality
Regional availability, grade, transport and delivery timing affect physical terms. Compare equivalent material and locations before interpreting a price difference.
Make comparisons meaningful
Aluminium is another widely used conductive industrial metal, while zinc and nickel provide context for other industrial markets. Indexing prices makes percentage movement comparable without confusing per-tonne and per-ounce levels.
In the comparison chart, each series starts at 100 on its first shared date. This compares percentage movements rather than equating the price of a tonne with the price of an ounce. For a physical transaction, also match quality, currency and delivery conditions.
Which product are you comparing?
| Product | What to check |
|---|---|
| Refined metal | Match the benchmark grade and delivery specification. |
| Fabricated copper | Include conversion and manufacturing costs beyond metal content. |
| Copper scrap | Separate grades and account for contamination, processing and buyer deductions. |
Recent yearly averages.
Download annual USD data ↓Original USD per metric tonne. These figures average the available monthly observations. They are not year-end closes or the mean of all daily prices. This archive retains the original source unit regardless of chart display settings.
| Year | Average (USD) | Monthly observations | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13,300.88 | 8 | Partial period |
| 2025 | 9,947.42 | 12 | 12 complete monthly observations |
| 2024 | 9,142.00 | 12 | 12 complete monthly observations |
| 2023 | 8,490.33 | 12 | 12 complete monthly observations |
| 2022 | 8,822.25 | 12 | 12 complete monthly observations |
| 2021 | 9,317.08 | 12 | 12 complete monthly observations |
| 2020 | 6,173.83 | 12 | 12 complete monthly observations |
| 2019 | 6,009.92 | 12 | 12 complete monthly observations |
| 2018 | 6,529.92 | 12 | 12 complete monthly observations |
| 2017 | 6,170.17 | 12 | 12 complete monthly observations |
Partial averages can change as observations are added. Do not compare an incomplete year with a full year as though the coverage were identical.
Questions about copper prices
Is the Copper price live or a reference?
This page uses World Bank monthly reference averages; a daily series is not available here. The displayed label, source and timestamp identify the observation. Polling a source does not make its underlying publication more frequent.
What can affect the Copper price?
Electrical and construction demand: Copper is used in power cables, motors and construction. Activity in these applications provides context for demand, though no single application explains every movement. Processing and supply: Mining, refining and recycling affect available material. A refined benchmark does not value ore or mixed recovered metal directly.
Which Copper products need separate specifications?
Refined metal: Match the benchmark grade and delivery specification. Fabricated copper: Include conversion and manufacturing costs beyond metal content. These product differences mean one headline reference cannot price every physical transaction.
What do monthly and yearly Copper prices mean?
Monthly values retain the World Bank source averages rather than being rebuilt from a different daily feed. Yearly values average those monthly observations. The table flags incomplete coverage. A period average is different from a closing price.
How do I value a custom amount of Copper?
Use the copper value calculator for weight, fineness and currency, then inspect its scenario chart and weight table. A contained-metal estimate excludes unentered premiums, fees and non-metal components.
Where does copper come from?
Chile led estimated copper mine output in 2025, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Peru. Mining and refining are separate: China mined 1.8 million tonnes but refined an estimated 14 million tonnes. See the copper production map and table.
How does copper move from mines to users?
Codelco mines and processes copper into concentrates, anodes, blister and 99.9% cathodes. Its portfolio is marketed worldwide, mainly to manufacturers that turn copper into cable, tube, machine parts and alloys. Follow the documented copper routes; they are explanatory relationships rather than live cargo tracking.
What is copper used for?
Building construction was the largest reported US copper-product use in 2025. Electrical products and transportation followed, which explains why copper demand is tied to grids, buildings, factories and vehicles. The end-use section separates the cited applications.
Sources and further reading
- World Bank commodity data — monthly reference histories and source documentation.
- USGS commodity statistics and information — material uses, supply and industry context.
- price-chart.com methodology — validation, timestamps, period averages and conversions.
