Second Copper Supply Chain Dialogue Held

Alongside LME Week 2026, an international event hosted by the London Metal Exchange (LME), METI hosted the second Public-Private Dialogue for a Resilient Copper Supply Chain. Participants from Japan included METI, JOGMEC, copper smelting companies, and downstream industries. Participants also came from the Commonwealth of Australia, the Argentine Republic, Canada, the Republic of Chile, the EU, the Republic of Finland, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Italian Republic, Japan, the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Peru, South Korea, the Kingdom of Spain, the Swiss Confederation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The panel discussion and the public-private dialogue shared the view that the concentration of smelting capacity for critical minerals, including copper, in specific regions is an issue that warrants attention from the perspectives of supply chain resilience and economic security.

Participants confirmed the need to maintain and secure diverse smelting capacity and operators. They also shared the view that it is important to strengthen the sustainability of the entire supply chain through long-term commercial transactions based on trust, ensuring sustainable copper treatment and refining charges (TC/RC), and investing in copper mine development to meet growing demand.

Participants confirmed that companies and relevant government agencies across the supply chain, from upstream to downstream, would work closely together and continue addressing these challenges. METI will support the sustainable development of the copper industry with the aim of ensuring a stable global supply of copper, whose demand is expected to increase with the development of AI infrastructure and the expanded adoption of renewable energy.