Copper price today
Copper (bare bright)
$5.71/ lb
+1.17%
Updated 09:39:02 UTC
Copper trades on the COMEX (New York) and LME (London) futures exchanges, with the spot price updated continuously during trading hours. Yards reference one or both when setting their daily payout.
Today's macro signals
The factors most-watched by traders right now:
- LME warehouse inventory — when stocks draw down, near-month prices rise
- China construction PMI — China is the largest copper consumer; weak data pulls prices down
- EV production data — EVs use 3–4x the copper of ICE vehicles
- U.S. dollar index — copper is dollar-denominated; weak dollar lifts copper
- Refining margins — when smelter capacity is tight, scrap discounts widen
How yard pricing reflects spot
A typical bare-bright copper payout is 85–95% of COMEX spot, with regional and grade adjustments:
- High-end yards in major metros: 92–95%
- Mid-range yards: 88–92%
- Smaller / rural yards: 80–88%
These ranges shift with market conditions. When copper is volatile, yards widen their spread to protect against intraday moves.
What to do with this number
- Time large sales around favorable spot moves — but don't try to perfectly time the market
- Confirm yard payout vs. headline spot — the gap is the yard's margin
- Lock in a quote when possible — some yards will hold quoted pricing for 24 hours on confirmed loads