Following the continuous rise in prices of gold, silver, and platinum, market investment enthusiasm is spreading from traditional precious metals to a range of industrial metals on the periodic table. Recently, niche industrial metals like antimony, germanium, tungsten, and indium have become "hot commodities" on social platforms. Some are hoarding dozens of kilograms of indium ingots awaiting appreciation, others are buying potassium bars claiming 150% gains, and some merchants casually created "investment copper bars" that attracted over 30 inquiries in a single day. Behind this booming "periodic table investment fever," what investment psychology and potential risks are hidden? Experts in related fields were interviewed on this matter.
Merchants testing the waters with "investment copper bars" have sparked a craze. Recently, besides scrambling for gold and silver, merchants in Shenzhen's Shuibei have also launched investment copper bars, with a 1000-gram bar quoted anywhere from 180 to 280 yuan. However, most merchants indicated they do not have copper bars in stock and require pre-orders, with lead times varying from 3 to 7 days. One Shuibei merchant mentioned that while inquiries have been frequent over the past couple of days, very few have actually placed orders. The primary concern for most is the future redemption process. "Is this still the Shuibei overflowing with gold?" Currently, only a handful of merchants offer investment copper bars, and even market insiders find the situation rather unbelievable.
Recently, Wang Shaozhong, a seasoned practitioner in the precious metals industry within Shenzhen's Shuibei area, used a silver bar mold to create two copper bar prototypes. He employed AI technology to alter the text "Investment Silver Bar" on the panel to "Investment Copper Bar" and posted pictures of the finished product on social media. To his surprise, this impromptu post quickly captured market attention. Within just one day of posting, over 30 netizens privately messaged him to inquire about purchasing, with many directly expressing clear investment intent. Wang Shaozhong's trial of "investment copper bars" received an unexpectedly warm reception.
"Currently, there's no formal pricing yet. We didn't expect it to be so popular; we're even unsure what standards to use for selling," Wang Shaozhong admitted, stating that the launch of "investment copper bars" was purely accidental, with no prior planning for subsequent redemption channels. On social platforms, the heat around copper bar investment is already evident. A user from Zhejiang, Ms. Hua, posted a factory production video, announcing "Cu99.9 1000g copper bars in production, overtime work, pre-order required." Below her post, nearly a hundred comments inquired about price and purchasing methods, highlighting the market's investment fervor.
However, beneath the buzz, issues with pricing and redemption irregularities in copper bar transactions have emerged. It was found that transaction prices for copper bars lack a unified standard. Random consultations with several merchants dealing in copper bars and plates revealed significant price disparities. Some merchants clearly quoted 3000 yuan for 15000 grams, or 280 yuan per kilogram, while others bluntly stated, "The price is hard to specify." Subsequent contact with multiple merchants in the Shuibei market revealed that while they were aware of the hype around industrial metals, most have not formally entered this business. They particularly lack clear plans for redemption standards and pricing mechanisms for niche metals like copper bars.
Netizens are eyeing "periodic table investing," with some buying indium bars betting on appreciation over twenty years. On social platforms, discussions about the appreciation potential of industrial metals are heating up rapidly. Netizens are eagerly sharing price trends and purchasing channels for obscure metals, with some even compiling detailed "periodic table investment lists." Investing in indium ingots is entering the market.
Two months ago, netizen "Moneybags," recognizing indium's investment potential, purchased one kilogram of indium ingots online. "At the time, I was just testing the waters. After buying it, I stored it in a corner, not expecting to make money in the short term at all." To his delight, the price of indium rose by 25% within just two months. This impressive performance boosted his confidence: "Planning to hold long-term, maybe for 20 years." It is understood that there are quite a few investors like "Moneybags." Some netizens have even posted photos hoarding tens of kilograms of indium or antimony ingots,直言 stating they want to "bet on the long-term value of industrial metals."
In fact, the investment enthusiasm among netizens stems from the strong performance of the non-ferrous metals sector this year. It was learned that on the morning of January 6, 2026, the non-ferrous metals板块 surged strongly. Huayou Cobalt rose 7.32%, China Molybdenum rose 5.38%, Aluminum Corporation of China Limited (Chalco) rose 4.61%, with stocks like Yunnan Tin and Dongyang Guang following suit. The Industrial Non-ferrous Metals ETF (560860) rose 3.01%, aiming for four consecutive gains, with a cumulative two-week increase of 7.95%.
Industry insiders warn: Hoarding niche metals carries risks; avoid blind follow-the-trend investing. Faced with the "periodic table" investment fever spreading from social platforms, should ordinary people jump in? "Copper is suitable for hoarding by the ton, not by the kilogram. The premium on copper bars is too high; you might not break even even after holding for years," said one precious metals investor. He did the math: at 200 yuan per kilogram, it's equivalent to the copper price needing to reach 200,000 yuan per ton just to break even, not including cost interest and redemption discounts. "The problem is, the spot price today is quoted at 100,000 yuan per ton..."
Furthermore, the biggest difference between copper and gold or silver is that gold and silver inherently possess safe-haven and monetary attributes, whereas copper does not; its price is primarily driven by industrial demand. For instance, copper accounts for about 30% of an air conditioner's cost. "Therefore, copper is not suitable for personal investment," said Researcher Wang Xiaoqi, Director of the Investment and Sustainable Development Research Center at the Sichuan (Western) Research Institute. He indicated that the investment risks associated with such niche industrial metals far exceed those of traditional precious metals. Ordinary investors need to be highly vigilant about difficulties in liquidation and the traps of non-standardized transactions, and must avoid blindly following the hype.
Wang Xiaoqi pointed out that the prices of industrial metals like indium, antimony, and copper are closely tied to the global macro-economy and specific industrial demand, resulting in volatility much higher than gold. More critically, physical investment in these metals lacks mature redemption channels. After personal hoarding, individuals can easily face a situation where the asset is "priced but has no market," leading to liquidation difficulties. Looking back at the market, from past crazes like "speculating on sneakers" and "speculating on blind boxes" to the current "speculating on elements," hype around non-standardized goods often accompanies price bubbles, ultimately leaving most ordinary participants with losses.
Wang Xiaoqi emphasized that investors should remain clear-headed, fully assess their own risk tolerance, and avoid being misled by exaggerated profit cases on social media. Additionally, metals like potassium are dangerous in nature, and household storage poses serious safety hazards.
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