The Problem
The modern world runs on copper. From power grids and electric vehicles to AI data centers and advanced manufacturing, copper is the backbone of electrification.
Right now, global copper supply and demand are in equilibrium at 27 million metric tons per year, but the development pipeline is not sufficient to sustain it. With a 18-year mine cycle, the shortage is already being set in motion.
New copper mines in the Americas are urgently needed to meet the electrification demand of the modern world.
The Numbers That Matter
27 million tons
Current annual global copper demand
18 years
Average time required to bring a new copper mine into production.
10–20 million tons
Projected annual global supply deficit by 2040.
15
New large-scale copper mines the Americas would need to develop to maintain supply.
4
Major projects currently advancing toward production.
What’s Driving the Surge in Copper Demand
Significant Copper Deposits Already Identified
The Americas account for roughly 40% of global copper supply and demand.
Maintaining that share will require 10–15 new major mines over the next two decades.
Only 4 are advancing.
Why this matters for the Americas
The Americas represent roughly 40% of global copper demand and a similar share of mine supply. The region is therefore central to the world’s ability to electrify, from power grids and renewable energy to EVs and AI infrastructure.
The deposits exist across the hemisphere. What’s missing is development and sustained exploration.
With copper demand structurally rising, the regions that advance projects now will define the next phase of supply and secure the economic gains that come with it.
