What is really driving copper futures to record highs? Copper prices just broke every record as AI data center boom fuels global supply crunch

Copper prices are soaring aggressively in 2026 as copper futures smash record highs above $14,000 per ton and COMEX copper crosses $6.50 per pound. The rally is no longer only about manufacturing demand. AI data center construction is now driving a massive global copper rush. China’s factory recovery, Middle East sulfuric acid shortages, and tightening mine supply are deepening the global copper crunch. Investors increasingly see copper as the backbone of artificial intelligence, electrification, and next-generation infrastructure growth.