Naturally present in the soil, copper is the third most used metal in the world after iron and aluminum. Yellow-orange in color, this heavy metal is both very durable and easily malleable.
Copper is part of the composition of a large number of alloys and is used in several industrial and agri-food sectors. It is notably involved in the automotive, construction and electronics industries as an excellent electrical conductor. In recent years, with the construction boom, there has been strong demand for copper in industrialized and emerging countries such as China.
Copper deposits are found worldwide. Chile concentrates 33% of the world’s reserves, Indonesia and the United States each concentrate 7%. The largest consumer of copper remains Europe with about 30% of world demand. China also represents a significant share with nearly 22% of world demand. Recycling has contributed to the increase in copper production in recent years; it has allowed covering nearly 10% of world demand.
Le copper price is determined at the London Metal Exchange. This trading venue controls the storage of the batches of copper exchanged each day on the exchange. The copper price varies between 4 and 5 euros per kilo at the scrap dealer. In 2012, the copper court reached 7,515 USD per tonne.