Copper prices have gained 15.8 percent since the beginning of the year

Driven by global industrial and technology investments, copper prices have risen by 15.8 percent since the beginning of the year, while gold, the traditional safe haven, lost value over the same period. The U.S. Department of Commerce's proposed new tariff plan for 2027 is being closely monitored in the markets.

The increasing electricity demand of artificial intelligence data centers, the modernization of energy grids, and global spending in the defense industry are strengthening the demand for copper, an industrial metal. Copper prices have gained 15.8 percent since the beginning of the year and over 30 percent in the last 12-month period.

Over the same period, gold futures have lost 4.11 percent since the beginning of the year and 4.52 percent over the past one-year period. Spot gold prices also recorded a decline of 4.89 percent on an annual basis and approximately 4 percent since the beginning of the year.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has proposed a 15 percent tariff on processed copper starting January 1, 2027. This proposal, for which a final decision has not yet been announced, creates uncertainty in the markets with the expectation that, if enacted, it could affect global trade flows and supply chain costs in the U.S.