Understanding Copper Prices And Price Fluctuations
Wire and cable pricing has been all over the place these past couple of years. Users have seen prices jump quickly and unexpectedly, in quite a few cases destroying a significant portion of margin from jobs. Understanding and anticipating these price fluctuations could help you increase and protect your profits, plus it will give you a leg up in relation to your competition. The following article explains the causes of wire and cable price movements and it explains concrete steps you can take to leverage these swings to your advantage.
Reasons Why Commodities Rise And Fall
The pricing of wire and cable and in particular power cable is very sensitive to the pricing of two primary commodities: copper and oil. Most wire and cable is made using copper rod, plus jacketing and insulation that are byproducts of oil. As cable gets bigger in gauge size, it is more susceptible to large price movements because of the large amount of raw product needed for manufacturing. For example, 1000 feet of a light gauge Cat 5 cable may require around 8 lbs of copper rod. On the other end of the scale, 1000 feet of larger gauge 350 mcm mining cable may use 5000 lbs of copper rod. When copper prices float between $1.20 per pound and $4.50 per pound like they have in the past couple of years, a buyer might see an increase of ten to fifteen dollars in the Cat 5 order per each thousand feet. However, the price on the 350 mcm may spike by more than $5000 – with probable catastrophic effect on profit.
Commodities experts point to a couple of probable causes for copper and oil price volatility. First is the growth of emerging countries like China and India. As these economies boom, they are requiring more of these primary commodities to spur their growth. That drives stockpiles down and causes price increases. A second reason commodity prices fluctuate may be the impact of commodity market speculation. Pit traders sometimes react to shortages by trying to buy more of a dwindling commodity. Again, as the traders buy more copper or oil, supplies drop and costs increase.
We see a similar cause and effect driving copper and oil prices downward. In late 2008, when the global economy crashed, commodity supplies increased. When these stockpiles rose, costs fell. However, these price drops also were the cause of an additional normal economic result: miners and drillers cut back on production. In some cases, commodities producers were unable to produce these products at a profit, so they curtailed investment in their people and equipment – thereby reducing supply and driving prices upwards again. These price fluctuations are simply a result of supply and demand factors.
Preparation of a Shielded Twisted Pair Copper Cable
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Iron 3 tier Chandelier 20 Light Tuscan inspired copper edging twisted detail $3,200.00 |
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43″H Tuscan 2 tier Iron 15 Light Chandelier classic copper edging twisted detail $2,950.00 |
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43″ H Iron 2 tier Chandelier 15 Light Tuscan copper edging twisted detail $2,400.00 |
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27″ H Iron 2 tier Chandelier 12 Light Tuscan copper edging twisted detail $1,900.00 |
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35″ H Tuscan 2 tier Iron 9 Light Chandelier classic copper edging twisted detail $1,800.00 |
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26″ H Tuscan Iron 5 Light Chandelier classic copper edging twisted detail $1,200.00 |
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Antique RH & Co Twisted Solid Copper Lightning Rod Blue Milk Glass w/ Stand 67″ $499.00 |
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1000′ 7922a Belden Cat5e DataTuff 4 Twisted Pair Cable 22AWG solid bare copper $397.00 |
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ENTERASYS MGBIC-02 1 GB, 1000BASE-T, IEEE 802.3 CAT5, COPPER TWISTED PAIR, 100.. $289.39 |
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ENTERASYS MGBIC-02 1 GB, 1000BASE-T, IEEE 802.3 CAT5, COPPER TWISTED PAIR, 100.. $289.39 |
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Vintage Wide Huge Heavy Twisted Copper Cuff Bracelet Mens 66.3 gr $185.50 |
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Traditional Aged Copper Twisted Base Buffet Table Lamp $184.00 |
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VINTAGE PLATA FUENTES TAXCO MEXICAN STERLING SILVER COPPER TWIST EARRINGS 15625 $125.00 |
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F-1440 5 PC VINTAGE COPPER TRIPLE TWIST ROD FIRESET $114.89 |
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Uniflame 5 PC VINTAGE COPPER TRIPLE TWIST ROD FIRESET $112.19 |
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NWT $298 Elliott Lucca Habana Leather Twist Tote Copper Metallic Handbag Bag $102.00 |
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WIDE 1 INCH BRASS WITH COPPER TWIST DESIGN BANGLE BRACELET VINTAGE 60′S 46 GR $89.50 |
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TSUNAMI SW912BL-100 12 GAUGE AWG 100′ FT SPEAKER WIRE 100% COPPER DUAL TWIST $74.95 |
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Twisted Finial Antique Copper All Metal Curtain Rod Set $59.00 |
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Twisted Finial Antique Copper All Metal Curtain Rod Set $49.00 |
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Twisted Copper & Sterling Ring $60.00 |
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Sweet Iron Snaffle Twisted Wire Copper Silver Life Saver Show Silver 5″ Bit $55.95 |
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Professionals Choice Copper Twist Ring Snaffle $57.95 |
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St Croix Trading Company Shagadelic Copper Chenille Twist 30×50 Area Rug $49.99 |
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COPPER MAGNETIC BANGLE BRACELET SILVER & GOLD TWIST LOT $54.99 |
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Twisted Finial Antique Copper All Metal Curtain Rod Set $39.00 |
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DYRBERG/KERN Kaleidoscope Collection Twisted Copper Ring sz 8/Q $40.09 |
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REINSMAN Twisted Copper Snaffle with Stainless Steel Medium Rings $49.99 |
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Miniature Loose Ring – 3/8″ Medium Twisted Copper Snaffle Bit $44.00 |
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Cosmas 9009ORB Oil Rubbed Bronze Twist Cabinet Hardware Handle Pull – 3 Hole Centers $1.59 Cosmas Hardware is the way to go when designing or fixing up your kitchen or bathroom. They do not make us charge unnecessary markups for their hardware like some of the other major brands do. Therefore, giving you great hardware at a price that you can afford. Go ahead, compare, we dare you…. |
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Smooth Copper & Brass Twist – Copper Bracelet With Magnets – From India $9.95 Copper Facts: Copper was the first metal known to man. For 10,000 years it has been fashioned into jewelry and small tools. Copper has high conductivity, is malleable and flexible which explains its extensive use, from electrical wiring to building materials. Recent research shows that copper inhibits bacterial growth. Copper is also an important mineral, necessary for metabolism of all living org… |
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