News and Events

HOPKINS COUNTY, KY – Copper prices throughout the Western Kentucky region have been on a constant rise over the past year. Recently, however, copper prices have been jumping up and down on a daily basis. 
Currently, local copper prices are right around the $4.00 per pound range, this year producing an all-time high in prices and sales of recycled copper. This has been both a positive and negative impact on our community. The positive aspect is that selling used copper can bring more income for local citizens. This also brings more money into the community via those buying copper from local individuals and selling it to out of state metal corporations. 

The negative aspect comes in the form of wide-range theft of copper. One example is a pair of men in Muhlenberg County that were recently arrested for stealing copper off of local church and business air conditioning units over the past year or more. If it has copper in it and is exposed, there is a good chance that someone has pinpointed it as a target.

There has been some talk on a global level of the possibility of an upcoming shortage of copper. This, coupled with the fact that China is currently stockpiling massive amounts of copper, has caused the increase in copper prices of late. Much of the copper recycled in the Western Kentucky region has ended up in China, as 2010 finalized with China providing almost 30 percent of the world’s demand for copper.

Will copper prices continue to rise? Will there be a shortage? Currently no one knows for sure, and those in leadership who might have some facts haven’t come forth with any information. What we do know is that the demand for copper is constantly rising from an industrial standpoint, and the amount of copper being produced is staying the same.

J.L. Graham
Regional News Director
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