CONSTRUCTION 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. 

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.

STEEL

• 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.

PVC

• 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.