Copper scarcity now forcing price hikes in the PC cooler market

The PC cooling market is reportedly bracing for a price adjustment. Alphacool and be quiet! have claimed that the rising cost of raw materials has reached a breaking point, with the former confirming that it will implement a 5% to 10% price increase across its product catalogue by the end of February. German manufacturer be quiet! also issued a statement, albeit more positive. Instead of climbing prices right away, it will only do so if the current cost of raw materials remains.

As Der8auer mentioned, the primary culprit behind this shift is the global surge in copper prices, which have reportedly risen from approximately $9,000 per tonne to over $13,000 per tonne over the past twelve months. Besides copper, tin also saw a 60-80% increase, depending on the currency used. On the other hand, aluminium and nickel prices have remained largely unchanged, while steel prices have actually dropped about 7%.

Because copper is the standard for thermal conductivity in premium PC components, forming the baseplates of water blocks and the fins of high-end radiators, cooling manufacturers are uniquely exposed to these market fluctuations. While both companies have supposedly spent months absorbing these extra costs to shield consumers, the sustained high pricing of industrial metals has made current margins unsustainable.

As some might have already concluded, the increase in raw material costs is due to the massive infrastructure required for AI data centres, which reportedly consume up to three times as much copper as traditional facilities for power and specialised cooling. With major copper mines in South America and Indonesia facing operational setbacks, a global deficit is expected to persist throughout 2026. For enthusiasts planning a new custom loop or a high-end air-cooled build, the next few weeks represent a final window before these adjustments hit retail shelves, with high-copper components like full-metal radiators and GPU blocks expected to see the most immediate impact.

KitGuru says: As if the memory shortage alone wasn't enough, the rising price of copper in 2026 is an unfortunate reality for a market already suffering.

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