● Copper Mania, AI Data-Center Shock, HBM4 Showdown, Nvidia Vera Rubin Surge
If you clicked this post, you’ve probably sensed how urgent the market is moving right now.The real reason copper prices broke through all-time highs isn’t simply because the economy is good.And even Jensen Huang’s ‘Vera Rubin’ bombshell at CES 2026 and the HBM war between Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.While others just say “it went up,” we will pinpoint exactly “why” and “where money will flow in the future,” focusing only on the core points.Invest just 5 minutes now, and you’ll see the flow of the next 10 years.
The Prelude to the Raw Material Supercycle and Semiconductor Hegemony War Triggered by AI
1. “We Can’t Sell Because There’s No Copper”: The Butterfly Effect Brought by AI Data Centers
If you look at economic news these days, it’s chaotic, right? Copper prices have hit $13,030 per ton. It surpassed the $12,000 mark in just a week and is unstoppable. This isn’t simply because the economy is recovering. The biggest reason is the AI data center.
As we enter the generative AI era, data centers are being built massively, and the amount of wiring and cabling going into them is beyond imagination. Copper is essential wherever electricity flows, right? Goldman Sachs analyzed that “EV demand and power grid upgrades alone are eating up concerns about an economic slowdown.”
Furthermore, the supply chain is at its worst.
- Indonesia Grasberg Mine: Operation suspended due to landslides.
- Chilean Mines: A series of strikes.
Since it takes decades to discover a copper mine and start production, supply cannot be increased immediately just because demand explodes now. Literally, a ‘shortage’ has arrived.
On top of this, political issues have poured oil on the fire. Due to concerns about the Trump administration’s tariff policies, US companies started panic buying, saying, “Let’s stock up now rather than buying expensively later.” The US Geological Survey (USGS) designating copper as a ‘critical mineral essential for national security’ is also a huge signal. Now, copper is not just a raw material but has become a strategic asset managed by the state.
2. The Shock of CES 2026: NVIDIA’s ‘Vera Rubin’ and the HBM4 Order War
Shall we turn our eyes to the stock market, especially semiconductors? The KOSPI has surpassed 4,600 points, setting new records every day, and at the center of it all are NVIDIA and AI.
The next-generation chip ‘Vera Rubin’ and the autonomous driving platform ‘Alpha Myo’ unveiled by CEO Jensen Huang at CES 2026 are completely shaking the market. Investors’ biggest interest is just one thing.“So, who will supply the HBM4 (High Bandwidth Memory) that goes into Vera Rubin?”
- SK Hynix: Has been NVIDIA’s closest partner so far. The absolute powerhouse of the HBM market.
- Samsung Electronics: Recently pursuing fiercely with top-tier evaluations.
Experts see it this way. While SK Hynix still holds the lead, Samsung Electronics’ production capacity (CAPA) cannot be ignored. Since AI chip demand is so explosive, there is a high possibility that Hynix’s volume alone won’t be able to handle it.
Ultimately, the key is how much volume Samsung Electronics wins, and the securities industry is revealing expectations by raising Samsung Electronics’ target price from 160,000 won to 180,000 won. Now is the time to look not just at a specific stock, but at the entire value chain including the three memory makers (including Micron) and materials, parts, and equipment.
3. [Deep Dive] Core Points News Doesn’t Tell You
Now, I will summarize the really important points that aren’t covered well elsewhere. You need to know this content to see real investments.
First, the rise in copper prices is not a signal of ‘inflation’ but of ‘energy transition’.It’s not simply that copper prices are jumping because prices are rising. All blood vessels of future industries such as green energy, AI, and the defense industry are being connected with ‘copper’. The reason Goldman Sachs predicted copper prices would reach $15,000 within the next 10 years is that copper has become a ‘key asset of the energy transition era’. Instead of reacting to short-term fluctuations, you should pay attention to the changes in long-term profit stamina of copper-related ETFs or companies like Poongsan.
Second, the double-sidedness of the ‘national security resource’ designation.The US designating copper as a critical mineral means the government will spend money directly to grow the industry, but conversely, it also becomes a justification to slap strong tariffs on imports. Until policy uncertainties are resolved, the ‘premium’ phenomenon where domestic US copper prices trade higher than global market prices will persist. This is an important variable that could bring price distortion to the global raw material market.
Third, semiconductors are moving from a battle of ‘technology’ to ‘productivity’.When the Vera Rubin chip comes out, HBM4 demand will increase geometrically. Now, while “who makes the better one” is important, “who can print out this massive volume by the delivery date” becomes the core competitiveness. The reason Samsung Electronics is receiving attention is precisely because of this overwhelming ‘mass production capability’. Watching how the supply pie sharing proceeds with Samsung, rather than Hynix’s solo run, is the key takeaway of semiconductor investment in the second half of the year.
< Summary >
- Copper Price Explosion: AI data center power grid demand explosion + Mine shutdowns (supply shortage) + US election tariff risks (panic buying) overlapping to break all-time highs.
- Core Change: US designates copper as a ‘national security essential mineral’. Upgraded from a simple raw material to a strategic asset. Long-term forecast of $15,000.
- Semiconductor Trend: NVIDIA ‘Vera Rubin’ unveiled at CES 2026. Order competition intensifying between SK Hynix (existing powerhouse) and Samsung Electronics (production capacity advantage) over the HBM4 supply chain.
- Investment Point: Approach copper from the perspective of a key asset in the energy transition era; for semiconductors, ‘mass production capability’ beyond technology will decide the winner.
[Read More Related Posts]
- [Next-Korea] Should You Buy Copper Now That It Broke All-Time Highs?
- [Next-Korea] Who Will Be the HBM Winner Chosen by NVIDIA’s Vera Rubin?
*Source: 서울경제TV
