November 4, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
McLean, VA— The Copper Development Association (CDA) today announced the release of its 2025 Annual Data Book, providing the most comprehensive view of U.S. copper supply and demand for 2024. The data confirms a surge in copper use across nearly every major market, driven by the nation’s accelerating electrification and accompanied by a growing dependence on imports to meet that demand.“Electrification is no longer on the horizon; it’s here,” said Adam Estelle, president and CEO of the Copper Development Association. “Copper use is rising across transportation, construction, and manufacturing as the nation modernizes its infrastructure and industrial base. Increased domestic mining, refining, and recycling as well as continued trade with dependable partners is essential to ensure the U.S. can meet its own needs responsibly and sustainably as part of an ‘all-of-the-above’ copper sourcing strategy.”
Electrification Pushes Demand Higher
In 2024, total U.S. copper use increased across nearly all sectors:
-
- Transportation: up 2%, reflecting continued growth in electric vehicle adoption.
- Electrical equipment and electronics: up 4%, showing copper’s expanding role in power systems and advanced technologies.
- Industrial machinery: up 5%, driven by modernization and automation trends.
- Building construction: up 3%, supported by home electrification and renewable-ready infrastructure.
Together, these gains underscore how deeply electrification has become embedded in the U.S. economy and industrial base.
Imports Fill the Supply Gap
On the supply side, total U.S. copper use by mid-stream fabricators and other industries increased 7% after two consecutive annual declines. Nearly all that growth came from imports, which rose 13%, while domestic mine production fell 6%, following an 8% drop in 2023.
Refined copper use held steady, led by wire rod mills (71%), copper and brass mills (23%), and foundries (3%). Semi-fabricated copper products used in end markets grew 3%, almost entirely from a 19% increase in net imports.
Circularity Gains Momentum
Copper scrap recovery increased 4% in 2024, signaling progress toward circularity. Copper and brass mills accounted for most of the growth, with retained scrap up 3%—a sign that more material is being recycled in the domestic market.
“With tariffs on semi-fabricated copper imports now in effect, we expect to see changes in how and where the U.S. sources its copper,” Estelle said. “The 2026 dataset, which will be released in mid-2027, should provide the first clear view of how these new trade dynamics are reshaping the market.”
Access the Full Report
The 2025 Annual Data Book: U.S. Copper Supply and Consumption (2004–2024) is available for download.
About CDA
Copper Development Association Inc. (CDA) is a U.S.-based, not-for-profit association of the global copper industry, bringing together the North American copper and copper alloy semis fabricators and global copper mining and production industries. CDA is committed to promoting the proper use of copper materials in sustainable, efficient applications for business, industry and the home.
###