Commodity Prices Shift as Copper Climbs, Aluminum and Steel Advance, and PVC Drops
- 1 min reading time
Contractors and distributors, take note: the latest September 2025 commodity report from Border States shows significant year-over-year shifts for materials critical to your projects:
- Price of Copper up 25% – Driven by a weaker U.S. dollar, tighter supply, and slower mine output.
- Price of Aluminum up 46% – Import tariffs are driving a shift toward scrap recycling. Expected supply constraints next year could keep prices high or push them even higher.
- Price of Steel (¾-inch) up 15% – Domestic steel producers are expanding capacity, but not all buyers are willing or able to purchase at these elevated prices.
- Price of PVC (4-inch) down 33% – Oversupply and reduced construction demand have brought prices down, but lead times remain extended by about a week.
What this means for electrical contractors: Monitor prices closely, keep these trends in mind, and plan your projects accordingly. Working with reliable suppliers can help you stay ahead of delays and keep budgets under control.
Partnering with ULE Group can help you scope out the right products, plan your budgets, and manage pricing, so you can keep projects on track despite shifting material costs.