Now scientists are discovering more about copper's vital role in the environment and human health.

 

Economic, technological, and societal factors influence the supply and demand for copper. In the last 100 years, industrial demand for refined copper has increased from 494,000 metric tonnes to over 19 million metric tonnes. As world population continues to expand, demand for copper tends to increase, while remaining sensitive to variances in economic cycles, changes in technology, and competition between materials for use in applications.

As society's needs for copper increases, new mines and plants are developed and existing operations are expanded. In times of market surplus, existing operations can be scaled back or closed down, and planned expansions can be put on hold.

More developed regions of the world use copper as an important component of their infrastructures. But as less developed regions expand their infrastructures, copper will help to form the building blocks required to increase living standards.