Copper hits record $14,617 a tonne on LME as US tariff fears spur buying

September 9, 2026 at 10:56 AM1 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Copper prices on the London Metal Exchange rose to a record $14,617 per tonne. The metal has gained 17% since the start of the year. Traders accelerated shipments to the US market amid reports of possible new tariffs on refined copper imports.

Key Facts

Copper on the London Metal Exchange reached $14,617 per tonne for the first time.
The metal has risen 17% since the beginning of the year.
Bloomberg reported that possible new US tariffs on refined copper imports drove the price increase.
Traders accelerated copper deliveries to the US market, reducing inventories in other markets.

Record Price

Copper on the London Metal Exchange rose to $14,617 per tonne for the first time. The metal has gained 17% since the start of the year. The price increase was driven by reports of possible new US tariffs on refined copper imports, according to Bloomberg.

Market Reaction

Traders accelerated copper shipments to the US market in response to the tariff reports. This led to reduced copper inventories in other markets. Copper is widely used in the energy sector, including power grid development, data processing centers, and artificial intelligence projects.