Copper Price Per Kilo Today

The copper price per kilogram is derived from exchange-traded benchmarks. Divide the LME price per metric tonne by 1,000, or multiply the COMEX per-pound price by 2.2046. The metric system is standard for international copper trade. The London Metal Exchange (LME) quotes prices per metric tonne and trades in 25-metric-tonne lots. Per-kilo pricing is the norm for industrial buyers, fabricators, and wholesale scrap dealers outside the United States.

Industrial copper procurement operates on a tiered pricing system based on the form and grade of the metal. Copper cathodes (flat, rectangular sheets of 99.99% pure electrolytically refined copper) are the LME delivery standard and command the benchmark price. Copper wire bar, produced by melting and casting cathodes into cylindrical billets for drawing into wire, trades at a slight premium reflecting additional processing.

Copper rod, tube, and sheet products carry progressively higher premiums based on the degree of fabrication. Scrap copper trades at a discount to cathode pricing, with the discount varying by grade and contamination level.

At the per-kilo level, copper's role in the energy transition becomes tangible. A single electric vehicle contains approximately 60-80 kg of copper in its motor, battery, wiring harness, and onboard charger, roughly three to four times more than a conventional internal combustion vehicle. A Level 3 DC fast charger uses an additional 3-8 kg of copper.

For industrial procurement departments, tracking the per-kilo price is essential for cost forecasting and budgeting. Copper typically represents a significant input cost for manufacturers of electrical equipment, construction materials, and automotive components. Many industrial buyers hedge their copper exposure using LME futures contracts to lock in per-tonne (and by extension, per-kilo) pricing months in advance.