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Refined copper output growth to slow in 2026: ICSG

Kitco Media
By Reuters
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Updated:
Reuters
Refined copper output growth to slow in 2026: ICSG teaser image

Copper output growth is forecasted slow to 0.9% in 2026, compared with a 3.4% growth expectation in 2025, Paul White, the Secretary-General of the International Copper Study Group told the World Copper Conference 2025 on Thursday.

The copper market will be in a 150,000-metric ton deficit in 2026, White said, while saying world copper mine production is forecast to rise by 2.3% in 2026, and world apparent refined copper usage is forecasted to grow by 2.1% in the coming year.

All the numbers were in line with a previous forecast by the industry body in an October statement.

(By Dylan Duan and Lewis Jackson; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)

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