According to the Indian Copper Association (ICA), India's demand for refined copper is expected to grow in line with the country's GDP growth, which is anticipated to be around 9% in 2026. ICA representatives, including Karmarkar, emphasized that to sustain this demand, India must add approximately 500,000 tonnes of refined copper capacity every five years. This capacity expansion is crucial to support the country's industrial and infrastructure development, reflecting the growing consumption of copper in various sectors. The association's outlook underscores the importance of scaling up copper production to meet the needs of a rapidly developing economy. Speaking on the outlook for the ongoing financial year, Karmarkar said copper demand is likely to track overall GDP growth and the association is anticipating at least around 9% growth over 2026.