The International Copper Association India said that India will need 500,000 tonne (t) of new copper capacity every five years to meet rising demand. It added that under the current growth scenario supply will have to chase demand, creating urgency for further capacity additions and investment in refining and smelting facilities. The association warned that domestic refined copper production will remain insufficient despite ongoing investments.

Annual data from the association showed that India's copper demand grew nine point three per cent to 1.878 million (mn) tonne (t) in FY25 from 1.718 million (mn) tonne (t) in FY24, reflecting robust economic progress and wider adoption of the metal across critical sectors. The report attributed the rise to large scale infrastructure projects, building construction, the clean energy transition and emerging technologies that all increased demand for industrial materials. Continued emphasis on these sectors sustained pressure on supply chains.

The building construction and infrastructure segments remained the primary growth drivers, registering 11 per cent and 17 per cent year-on-year growth respectively. The renewable energy sector recorded one of the highest annual capacity additions in FY25 while the consumer durables sector saw a double-digit per cent increase driven by strong sales of air conditioners, fans, refrigerators and washing machines. The association urged accelerated investment in refining and smelting to bridge the gap between output and demand.

Industry stakeholders were advised to prioritise capacity expansion and modernisation to avoid bottlenecks as demand continues to rise. Planned additions will need to be delivered at pace over successive five year cycles to keep supply in step with consumption. Policymakers and investors were called on to support measures that improve domestic refining capability and attract capital for new projects.