Rising demand for copper and processors in AI infrastructure creates lucrative targets for cargo thieves, industry reports show.
Cargo thieves are increasingly targeting high-value commodities essential to artificial intelligence infrastructure, including copper, processors, and networking equipment. The shift follows billions in investments by tech firms to expand data centers and computing capacity, making these goods more valuable and harder to replace.
S&P Global projects copper demand tied to AI and data centers will rise from 1.1 million metric tons in 2025 to 2.5 million metric tons by 2040. Overall copper demand could increase by 50% over the same period as AI, robotics, and electrification reshape supply chains.
Historically, thieves have focused on goods that are expensive, difficult to replace, and easy to resell. AI-related cargo now fits that profile, mirroring past trends in consumer electronics and pharmaceuticals.