Why a global copper shortage affects the roofing industry

[ROOFING IS PERHAPS not the first industry to spring to mind as being impacted by a world copper shortage, but for heritage roofers, and traditional metal roofers in particular, the current shortage and consequent high price of the metal is a real concern.

In a blog post, Trevor Corser of JTC Roofing Contractors Ltd, who is chairman of the Federation of Traditional Metal Roofing Contractors, writes: “As we attempt to navigate a post-pandemic world, there will be, naturally, a few bumps on the road. One unexpected consequence of the supply chain’s return to normal is copper’s rapid rise in price. In fact, copper prices have risen by 50-60% in the last six months alone, and due to the ongoing global shortage, these prices are predicted to rise even further.

“This comes after the three-year period of low copper prices, which was due to the recession that COVID-19 brought about in 2020. So, in a sense, the rapid shift in pricing is reflective of the global economy’s return to normal.

“There is a debate amongst specialists as to whether this is simply a shortterm post-COVID phenomenon, or whether the copper prices will remain high into the future.”

He lists some of the factors that are causing the shortages and high copper prices. They include:

• Supply chains returning to normal levels after the pandemic