2026-10-21 · percent of refined copper use
Copper wires the energy transition
Construction and electronics dominate demand — EVs add growth.
Copper is the metal the energy transition runs on — and in 2026 its demand map is still ruled by established uses. Electronics take 31% of refined copper use and building & construction 28%, while transport, machinery and other applications claim the remaining 41%. With EVs adding a new growth lane on top, every share point matters for how tight the global copper market gets.
1 cell = 0.1 percent of refined copper use (0.1% of copper end-use) · 1,000 cells
Context
These shares come from the International Copper Study Group (ICSG), the intergovernmental body that maintains one of the world's most complete copper statistical databases, covering production, usage, trade, stocks and prices. Its end-use breakdown shows how refined copper splits between electronics, building & construction, and transport, machinery and other applications.
Construction and electronics have long anchored copper demand; the energy transition adds growth on top rather than replacing them, with electric vehicles a key new source of demand.
ICSG's Copper Market Forecast 2026–2027 and monthly Copper Bulletin track whether supply can keep pace, and the Study Group's next meetings are scheduled for Lisbon on 13 October 2026.
ICSG copper end-use survey shares.
Share and export
Credit this grid as Inagrid — https://inagrid.com/e/2026-10-21-copper-uses
Keep exploring
Next in the archive