Copper Soars to New Highs After Best Year in Decades; Market Tightens

• Copper prices surged on the first trading day of 2026, driven by expectations of a tighter market, following its largest annual rise since 2009.
• In 2025, London Metal Exchange (LME) copper prices jumped 42%, making it the best-performing industrial metal due to mine interruptions and tariff concerns.
• The red metal was up 0.8% at $12,522.50 a ton in Singapore, after reaching a record $12,960 earlier in the week.
• Mine accidents in Indonesia, Chile, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2025 significantly reduced global copper output.
• Increased US exports led to market congestion, further contributing to price hikes.

Why It Matters: Copper prices continue to climb in 2026 after a record-breaking 2025, fueled by supply issues.