Market Updates

COPPER

This chart indicates futures only. Click here for a daily COMEX chart.

  • Spring showers bring... copper volatility! Copper jumped this week due to optimism around the geopolitical de-escalation.
    • Supply is already tight due to stockpiling and aging mines.
    • As the risk for copper decreased, traders jumped back in, creating the sharp rebound.
  • What to expect:
    • A slight settling in the weeks to come:
      • Assuming all things stay the same, copper could stay in the $6.00/lb through the month.
    • Copper could pull back:
      • Middle East talks collapse.
      • Mass sell offs of current stockpiles.
    • Copper could remain and continue to increase:
      • Additional mine issues.
      • Continued US tariff talks.
      • Increase in China’s demand.
      • Additional reporting around AI/Data Center demand.
ALUMINUM
  • Aluminum is currently sitting at a 4 year high, however, we have not seen that reflected in the current aluminum wire pricing.
  • Imported aluminum continues to flood the US market, keeping aluminum pricing down even as the price of aluminum increases.
  • As the import wire supply dwindles, expect increases in the coming months from all manufacturers.

April 16, 2026

Key Takeaways

Copper has recently climbed to a one‑month high, returning back to the $6.00/cu level and above, while steel prices continue to rise due to demand and capacity constraints. Resin cost pressures are also contributing to higher PVC pricing. As summer construction season begins to pick up, we encourage you to connect with your Van Meter representative early and often to help keep projects moving smoothly and on schedule.

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 22-26 weeks
Tray Cable 6-8 weeks
PVC In stock or up to 6 weeks
STEEL
  • Steel prices continue to climb.
  • Demand for large projects is starting to create some capacity constraints – be sure to stay ahead of your large project needs.
  • Be on the lookout for longer lead times around:
    • Specialty Conduit
      • Colors
      • 20’s
    • Large radius rigid elbows
PVC
  • PVC is up 15% so far this month.
  • As bulk spring buys start to deplete, expect large increases this month/into May.
  • Another resin increase is expected in May.
  • All signs point to resin/PVC staying elevated through the summer due to increased demand, tightening supply and resin increases due to the conflict in Iran.

Featured Products

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

iToolco Manhole Adapter

Get better stability and versatility when pulling wire over 18" to 36" manholes. Simply use the frame to position the wire puller above the manhole, secure in place with steel anchoring points (provided), and begin pulling wire.

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iToolCo Curb Rollers

With iTOOLcoʼs Curb Rollers, wire rides on multiple bearinged rollers for a smooth feed around any sharp corner. Perfect for many different pulling and feeding situations - curbs, manholes, in and out of electrical boxes.

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iToolCo Aluminum Sheave

Change pulling force directions with ease! Remove cable from either side of the hook sheave once a pull is complete, and then reset for the next pull in seconds, without ever disconnecting the sheave from the hook assembly.

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Wire and Cable Solutions

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

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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
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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.

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