With the copper industry analysis, the five major trends in 2018 are expected to lead the industry, as follows:

Electric vehicle market drives copper demand

With a number of new electric vehicles coming to market, electric vehicles are expected to see explosive growth in 2018.

Ten countries in the world are in the forefront of the electric vehicle sector, with a market share of 95%. Sorted by market share, these countries are China, the United States, Norway, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Canada. Driven by technological improvements, price cuts and the popularity of charging piles, by 2025, one in six vehicles is expected to be powered by electricity.

Electric vehicle technology is highly dependent on copper. Copper is used in many key parts of electric vehicles, such as batteries, motors, charging stations and supporting facilities. In addition, the more advanced the electric vehicle technology, the greater the demand for copper. Internal combustion engines usually use 23 kilograms of copper, hybrid electric vehicles use 40 kilograms of copper, and plug-in hybrids use 60 kilograms of copper.

The water crisis is getting worse

Water stress is suffering all over the world. Some areas have been dry and rainless, while others have been flooding, resulting in a lack of clean drinking water resources in many areas. These problems are becoming more and more serious as the demand for water resources grows, the constant impact of climate change and the lack of efficient water supply facilities. In many areas where water crises are rampant, integrated system facilities such as pipelines, treatment plants, and sewer systems for transporting, treating, and discharging water bodies are either in poor condition or not at all.

In this way, copper has a place to use. Copper is a durable, reliable and stable metal that is especially suitable for the laying of plumbing installations. Its good impermeability prevents pollutants such as oil, pesticides and fertilizers from entering the water system. Copper also has anti-corrosion ability and is also a nutrient necessary for human growth and development. Copper, an important material that brings clean water to areas of the world where it is needed. Wear-resistant copper alloy

The future of electrification

The rise of electrification means that electricity will enter the fields of cars, heating and cooling systems that were originally limited to fuel supply.

The increase in people's income has enabled millions of households to use a variety of electrical and refrigeration equipment, which will inevitably drive the growth of electricity demand around the world. A large amount of copper is used for power generation, distribution and transmission. Copper is an excellent conductive material that excels at high temperatures, which helps electrical systems integrate into large power grids.

Renewable energy growth momentum is gratifying

The demand for renewable energy has been high worldwide. From wind turbines to solar panels, copper is a key component of renewable energy technologies. Wind turbines use copper as a grounding wire, transmission cable, transformer, frequency converter, lightning protection, and some materials for their generators and control systems. Only one wind power station will use 4 million pounds (1800 tons) to 15 million pounds (6800 tons) of copper.

Copper is also used as a key component of solar power systems to improve the energy efficiency, reliability and performance of photovoltaic cells and components. Copper's excellent electrical and thermal conductivity plays a vital role in the collection, storage and distribution of solar energy.

The rise of flexible architecture

At present, the construction industry consumes 30% of the world's final energy, and the energy saving potential is considerable. As the demand for sustainable buildings grows, the benefits of green construction continue to emerge and are favored in the global construction market.

China is making great efforts to improve building sustainability. China's “13th Five-Year Plan for Building Energy Efficiency and Green Building Development” requires that 50% of new urban buildings must be certified for green buildings. Already 90% of Chinese commercial building owners plan to build at least one building with zero or near zero energy consumption in the next 10 years.

The use of copper in home construction is almost endless, and its uses include roof and wall cladding, flashing, gutters and drains, wire wiring, piping, heating systems, ventilation systems and design elements. The copper is solid and durable, and its service life is comparable to the life of the building. There is no need to replace it in the middle. In addition, copper as a building material has the advantages of corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance, low maintenance cost, light weight and bacteriostasis.