Electrification needs are placing copper at the center of global industrial prospects. For mold manufacturers, this trend also deserves attention: certain copper alloys are used in components where thermal performance is critical.
In its Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026 report, published on July 16, 2026, the International Energy Agency highlights growing copper needs, particularly for power grids and new technologies. Under its Announced Policies Scenario, existing and announced mining projects would leave a potential gap of around 25% against primary supply requirements in 2035.
This projection points to a possible medium-term imbalance, depending in particular on project development and how demand evolves.
While aluminum and steel make up the bulk of materials used in extrusion-blow molds, copper and its alloys can be used in certain technical areas. Metal selection rests on multiple factors: thermal conductivity, wear resistance, and operating conditions all need to be considered together. Different alloy families meet different needs.
For a tooling project, our approach is above all a practical one: identifying early enough which components require a specific alloy, checking their availability, and examining possible alternatives before finalizing the design.
For MATISSART’s clients, copper’s outlook is therefore a topic worth bringing into the dialogue between design, purchasing, and industrialization — without conflating a global trend with the supply difficulties specific to any one project.
