Recent discussions about rare-earth substances, driven by geopolitical factors, overshadow an equally pressing issue: the shortage of copper. Essential for industries like electronics and renewable energy, copper prices have surged nearly 75% since 2020 due to increased demand. Major copper-producing countries like Chile and Peru face challenges in meeting this demand amidst environmental concerns. Industry leaders, like Cassandra Cummins from Thomas Instrumentation, emphasize that copper constitutes around 90% of circuit boards, highlighting the impact of copper shortages on production and pricing in tech and renewable sectors.
While the microchips the company uses contain rare earth minerals, around 90% of a finished circuit board is copper. If we don't have copper, then we don't have boards.
The demand for copper has surged in the past two decades, driving its price up nearly 75% since 2020, yet its production is struggling to meet this demand.
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