Since copper is widely used in a number of industries the demand for copper is inseparable from the growth of global economy.
The demand for copper has been growing steadily since the beginning of the 20th century. It is estimated that the demand for copper will double the existing one by 2030. The progress of research and development of prospective innovative technologies additionally stimulates the demand.
Efforts are underway to develop a new composite material - a combination of copper and graphene (an allotrope of carbon). By adding graphene to copper a new material with a higher electrical conductance is obtained. This combination is to be deployed in power generation, electronics and mechanical engineering.
Similary to copper, silver is indispensable for the growth of economy. In total, industries use as much as 40% of the global production of silver. Moreover silver is a highly 'valued investment vehicle. The structure of the demand for silver has changed markedly in the past twenty years, especially in the two key silver processing areas: the industry and jewellery. In both areas the demand is expected to increase significantly in the future.
