Spent my lunchtime flicking through the World Copper Factbook produced by the International Copper Study Group because, well, I'm that guy.

Just look at how much more copper we've been consuming since the advent of electronics/the decision to stop poisoning us in our own homes with lead pipes.

The upcoming demise of the internal combustion engine and the rise of EVs is going to boost this much further. Four times as much copper needed in one of those new-fangled Tesla-type things.

Yest scrap metal usage doesn't appear to be rising

Chile is the top producer, as every pub quizzer knows:

This all explains why Mongolia is keen to get a bigger piece of Rio Tinto's pie at Oyu Tolgoi https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/energy-commodities/rio-tintos-mongolia-mine-plan-will-go-ahead-minister