$BHP the world's largest mining company, is seeing strong growth driven by copper demand.
CEO Mike Henry explained on CNBC few months ago that copper needs are accelerating due to multiple factors working together:
> traditional economic and population growth.
> newer demands from the energy transition.
> AI data centers, and electric vehicles.
The company expects global copper demand to grow by up to 70% by 2050, making it an increasingly valuable commodity.
New copper deposits are becoming harder to find and more expensive to develop, which creates great opportunities for the whole sector. BHP has a major project called Resolution mine in Arizona that could supply 25% of US copper demand for decades once operational.
This project has received support from the Trump administration and represents a potential $10 billion investment, though it's still working through some legal challenges and needs extensive exploration work costing hundreds of millions before a final decision.
The US government is focused on securing critical mineral supply chains, viewing copper as essential for national security.
I still believe ETFs are the best way to invest in the whole sector: $COPX, $ICOP, and $COPP.
Large established players: $BHP, $SCCO, $FCX, $TECK, and $RIO.
Smaller, high-risk growth plays: $NAK, $WRN & $IVN, $ERO.
