Speak to a specialist

Register and we will customize a solution that meets your exact needs. When you speak to one of our experts, you may be qualified to sample our industry-leading products on a no-cost basis.

You can unsubscribe from these updates at any time. We manage your personal data in accordance with our privacy policy.
  • 14 April 2026
  • Market: Metals, Minor Metals

In this episode, Argus explores why copper — long viewed as a stable macro barometer — has entered one of its most turbulent periods in years. From tariff‑driven arbitrage to supply disruptions in Africa and China’s increasingly strained smelter margins, our experts break down the forces shaping the market’s sharp swings and the risks looming over the remainder of 2026. 

Covered in this episode

  • How tariff fears, financial inflows and mine outages pushed copper briefly above $14,000/t
  • Why the Iran conflict introduces both macro headwinds and sulphur‑related supply risks
  • How sulphur disruption affects SX‑EW production in the DRC and Zambia
  • Why China’s smelters continue to operate despite record‑negative TCRCs
  • The outlook for Chinese copper demand in 2026 amid weaker new‑energy sectors

Listen now

Related products

Argus Non-Ferrous Markets

Independent pricing and market intelligence for non-ferrous metals: Base metals, ferroalloys, rare earths, precious, minor and specialty metals
Find out more

Spotlight content

Select
Copper’s Volatile New Landscape

Copper’s Volatile New Landscape

14/04/26
Strait of Hormuz: How Sulphur is Impacting the Copperbelt

Strait of Hormuz: How Sulphur is Impacting the Copperbelt

10/04/26
Metal Movers: How the Iran Conflict is Impacting Steel Markets

Metal Movers: How the Iran Conflict is Impacting Steel Markets

02/04/26
Insight papers

The Coming Battery Supply Chain Shock

How diesel shortages, freight disruptions and sulphur shocks are reverberating across lithium, nickel, cobalt and copper markets.
31/03/26
The Coming Battery Supply Chain Shock
Insight papers

Argus expands titanium coverage into high-end aerospace market

17/03/26
Insight papers

Battery Energy Storage: Market Dynamics and Outlook to 2030

11/03/26
Insight papers

EU policy shifts to drive intra-EU steel trade

13/02/26
Insight papers

Argus expands lithium coverage for China, Australia as market evolves

16/12/25
Blogs

How the Iran conflict is affecting non‑ferrous metals markets

Aluminium supply shock, sulphur constraints and second‑order risks for global metals markets
07/04/26
How the Iran conflict is affecting non‑ferrous metals markets
Blogs

DRC’s Rubaya mine collapse

12/02/26
Blogs

Sodium-ion battery: a challenger to Li batteries

02/02/26
Blogs

Argus Scrap Coverage in Mexico: A Transparent Benchmark for a Growing Market

18/11/25
Blogs

What does energy storage growth mean for multiple metals demand?

12/11/25

Speak to our experts today

Register below and we will customise a solution that meets your exact needs. When you speak to one of our experts, you may be qualified to sample our industry-leading products on a no-cost basis.
You can unsubscribe from these updates at any time. We manage your personal data in accordance with our privacy policy.
Sign up for our free newsletter
Free Newsletter