Copper Prices Set for Sharp Rise as Global Energy Transition Accelerates
UBS Predicts Copper at $13,000/Ton by 2026 Amid Supply Disruptions and Soaring Green Energy Demand
According to new projections from UBS, copper prices could surge to $13,000 per ton by December 2026, driven by a dual shock: persistent disruptions in global mining operations and an unprecedented rise in demand fueled by the worldwide energy transition.
A chart published by Mining Visuals shows a steady upward trend: $11,500 in March 2026, $12,000 in June, $12,500 in September, and a peak of $13,000 by year’s end.
This continuous rise reflects growing pressure on supply as electrical networks, renewable energy systems, and electric mobility absorb increasingly large volumes of copper.
Beneath the graph, a visual timeline highlights the factors behind this surge: stressed mining capacities, aging electrical grids in need of upgrading, the rapid expansion of solar and wind installations, and above all the explosive growth of electric vehicles. Copper has become the indispensable metal of global decarbonization.
These forecasts confirm a reality already taking shape: the market is entering a phase where every ton of copper matters, and where producing countries hold a strategic advantage in shaping global supply.
A Strategic Opportunity for the DRC—If Governance Keeps Pace
For the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the world’s key copper producers, this global dynamic represents a rare opportunity. Rising prices could allow the country to better monetize its output, attract long-term investment, and advance the development of a more integrated, value-added mining industry.
However, experts across the African mining sector emphasize that future competitiveness will not rest solely on production volume. The DRC’s long-term advantage will depend on its ability to strengthen traceability, transparency, and governance across the mining value chain.
If managed effectively, this copper boom could become a turning point—transforming the sector and reinforcing the DRC’s position at the heart of the global energy transition.
