German copper producer Aurubis and Italian cable maker Prysmian said on 23 September 2026 that they had signed a long-term agreement for copper wire rod supply. The companies described it as the largest agreement in a partnership that spans more than 30 years. Wire rod is a semi-finished copper product used to make electrical cables and related products. The announcement did not disclose the contract’s total volume, delivery schedule, pricing formula or exact term, so the size and timing of any effect on European supply cannot yet be quantified.

Aurubis says it operates four copper-rod plants in Europe and that its current rod production contains approximately 36% recycled material. That figure describes the company’s existing production profile; it is not the exact recycled-content share or quantity of copper to be delivered under the Prysmian contract. Aurubis says its product has a carbon footprint significantly below the global industry average for comparable products, but the release provides no comparative number or methodology figure. Both companies say they participate in The Copper Mark assurance framework for responsible production, sourcing and recycling.

The companies present the deal as support for European supply security as copper demand grows with grid expansion, renewable-energy infrastructure and digital networks. Prysmian says it is the world’s largest buyer of copper wire rod, while Aurubis points to its production, recycling and European plant network. A long-term supplier relationship may give a cable maker flexibility and regional proximity. But without disclosed volume or contract duration, it is not possible to determine how much current supply has been secured or when deliveries are expected.

Copper demand comes from several uses, including electricity grids, renewable connections, electrification and AI data centres. A long-term agreement may help manage supply or price volatility, but the release does not promise a fixed price, guaranteed annual tonnage or a measured cost saving. The claims of lower-carbon and circular supply are the companies’ descriptions; no independent emissions figure for this specific contract was published. The 36% recycled-content figure and four plants provide context about Aurubis’s current production rather than specifying contract deliveries.

Without the agreement’s volume and pricing terms, the release cannot establish physical copper scarcity or an effect on European cable costs. A supply contract does not itself produce metal; delivery depends on sourcing, recycled inputs, production capacity and logistics. The companies’ long relationship is relevant context for the partnership but is not, by itself, a performance or volume guarantee.