BHP CEO Brandon Craig said artificial intelligence and global economic growth will drive a long-term boom in copper demand.
This shift is critical because copper is a foundational component for the technologies powering the modern economy. As the world transitions toward more complex digital and green infrastructures, a supply shortage could create significant bottlenecks for global industrial growth.
Craig said these trends during a CNBC Television interview aired in June 2026 [1]. He said that the proliferation of AI technologies is increasing the requirement for copper in electronics and data center infrastructure. This demand is coinciding with broader global economic growth, which further elevates the need for the metal in various industrial sectors [1], [2].
Beyond AI, the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure remains a primary driver. Copper is essential for the electrical grids, and energy systems required to support a low-carbon economy [1], [2]. Craig said these combined factors will cause demand to outpace the current rate of supply.
Financial indicators for the company reflect this shifting landscape. BHP reported that full-year profit rose 0.4% pre-market [3]. This growth comes as copper begins to play a more dominant role in the company's portfolio relative to other commodities like iron ore [3].
The outlook suggests a structural change in how mining companies prioritize resources. While iron ore has traditionally been a primary driver for BHP, the strategic focus is shifting toward metals that support the digital transformation of the global economy [1], [3].
“AI and global economic growth will drive a long-term boom in copper demand.”
The transition toward AI-driven computing and renewable energy creates a structural dependency on copper that cannot be easily substituted. If supply fails to keep pace with the demand forecasted by BHP, the resulting price volatility could increase the cost of building data centers and green energy grids, potentially slowing the deployment of these technologies globally.
