Market Updates

COPPER

While real supply and demand constraints are supporting higher copper prices, fundamentals alone would place pricing in the ~$5.20–$5.90/lb range. The market dynamics in play are distorting pricing and pushing copper into the $6.00/lb range and beyond. We will continue to see peaks and valleys – stability in copper pricing is definitely a thing of the past. 

Copper Price Fluctuation Factors

ALUMINUM
  • We have seen several increases so far in 2026 for Aluminum, both wire and conduit.
  • Aluminum requires a very power intensive process to produce, so we can expect additional increases if oil prices continue to climb and if there are additional escalations in the Iran conflict.
  • Expect more pricing stability if oil prices and geopolitical conflicts stay neutral
  • One other thing to be on the lookout for, if copper remains above $6.00 for an extended period, the demand for Aluminum on mission-critical projects may also create a spike in pricing.

May 15, 2026

Key Takeaways

Copper hit a record high this week at $6.67 per lb (COMEX), driven by a limited supply and high demand imbalance that has become constant rather than cyclical. Keep an eye out for continued increases across the commodity platform. Get ahead of projects, plan early and let Van Meter help you procure your projects within the contract terms and timeline needed.   

Maggie McGurk, Van Meter Inc.
Maggie McGurk
Commodities Manager
Van Meter Inc.
LEAD TIMES
Medium Voltage Cable - 35kv  40-44 weeks
Medium Voltage Cable - 15kv  22-26 weeks
Armored Cables Copper and Aluminum Feeder MC is getting hit hard by the data center sector, expect 30+ week lead times
Tray Cable 6-8 weeks
PVC In stock or up to 6 weeks
Feeder CUXHHW Potential lead times on large feeder quantities
STEEL

Lead times to watch out for:

  • Colored Conduit
  • Large radius elbows

Steel Market Update

PVC
Resin is up 5.4% this month, and manufacturers are calling for an increase for open of business Monday, May 18.

Featured Products

Explore our top picks of the month and discover how Southwire is powering progress, one connection at a time.

Southwire Rope Clevis

The rope clevis connects the cable grip and pulling rope to prevent winding and tangling during cable pulls and is designed to pass smoothly over sheaves, pulleys, and rollers. Its pin roller design supports larger diameter rope and increases strength by evenly distributing load pressure.

View Details

Southwire QWIKrope

QWIKrope is a lightweight, UV‑resistant, ultra‑low stretch pulling rope built for feeder and circuit wire pulls. Made from ultra‑high molecular weight polyethylene fibers, it delivers exceptional strength with reduced friction and won’t absorb water or rot.

View Details

Southwire Maxis XD1

Designed for one‑person setup and operation, this high‑speed, lightweight solution accepts most commercial 18V drills for added flexibility on the job. Anodized for corrosion resistance, it delivers continuous pulling power up to 600 lbs. for reliable, efficient performance.

View Details

Wire and Cable Solutions

Learn about our latest projects, best practices, newest products, latest news and more.

Pound For Pound, Southwire’s SIMpull Reel Delivers
Pound For Pound, Southwire’s SIMpull Reel Delivers
Stop playing tug of war with your wire pulls and see how much easier it is to pull wire using Southwire’s SIMpull Reel.
Save Valuable Time With This Wire Pulling Cheat Code
Save Valuable Time With This Wire Pulling Cheat Code
Watch our side-by-side comparison of using pre-installed wire pulling heads vs. creating pulling heads in the field.
You Won’t Believe How Much Time Southwire’s SIMpull REEL Can Save
You Won’t Believe How Much Time Southwire’s SIMpull REEL Can Save
Watch our timelapse comparison of a traditional wire pulling setup vs. Southwire’s SIMpull reel to see how much time and effort you can save, and check out the benefits of the SIMreel below.
Jobsite Hack: Plan Quicker, Easier Wire Pulls With These Wire Pulling Calculators
Jobsite Hack: Plan Quicker, Easier Wire Pulls With These Wire Pulling Calculators
You don’t get paid to calculate wire pulls. You get paid to complete them. Learn how Southwire’s free wire pull calculating tools help you save time planning projects, so you can get to payday sooner.
On the Job with Knobelsdorff Electric: Contractor Maximizes Efficiency with Wire Pulling Solutions
On the Job with Knobelsdorff Electric: Contractor Maximizes Efficiency with Wire Pulling Solutions
Go On the Job with Knobelsdorff Electric to see how they were able to execute a more efficient wire pull by partnering with Van Meter.
What you don't know about Southwire's XD1 Wire Puller
What you don't know about Southwire's XD1 Wire Puller
Watch Adam Bayliss, Contractor Services Specialist, show you how the XD1 wire puller can pull light feeder cable with a 9/16” SIMpull rope.
Compare four methods of ordering circuit wire
Compare four methods of ordering circuit wire
Do you know your options when ordering circuit wire from Van Meter? Watch Adam Bayliss, Contractor Services Specialist, show you four different options for ordering circuit wire, and compare each.
Tape Talk: What Type Of Electrical Tape Do I Need?
Tape Talk: What Type Of Electrical Tape Do I Need?
Duct tape fixes everything, right? Well, electrical contractors know that it’s a little more complicated than that. If you apply the wrong electrical tape in the wrong environment to the wrong application, it can jeopardize the durability and safety of your project. To help you avoid any sticky situations, use this tool to find the right type of electrical tape for your application.
Combine two wire pulling ropes with this simple solution
Combine two wire pulling ropes with this simple solution
If you need a thousand feet of wire pulling rope for your pull, you’ll need a thousand-foot pulling rope, right? Well, not when you use Southwire’s QWIKrope soft shackles to connect two wire pull ropes together. The ability to combine (or separate) wire pulling ropes into a longer rope with the soft shackles gives you more flexibility in the field and reduces the variety of ropes you need on hand. Watch Adam show you how to combine two wire pulling ropes with soft shackles, or check out the guide below.

Everything You Need to Succeed

Talk to an employee-owner about how we can make a positively powerful impact on your business.

Connect With A Wire and Cable Expert »