Rio Tinto said it will supply copper for Amazon AI data centers as part of a new agreement announced on Wednesday. The deal covers copper earmarked for use in data center construction, electrical systems, and infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence computing.
The supply arrangement forms part of a broader commercial contract between Rio Tinto and Amazon. Rio Tinto did not disclose the total value of the copper supply deal. The timetable for deliveries includes phased shipments over several years, according to the company.
Copper is a key material in electrical wiring and power distribution. Data centers require large amounts of copper to support servers, cooling systems, and power infrastructure. Increased demand for AI processing capacity has driven growth in data center construction globally.
Rio Tinto said it will source copper from its operations in various regions. The company’s mining assets include large scale copper mines in countries such as Australia, Mongolia, and North America. Rio Tinto did not specify which mines will supply the Amazon data center requirements.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) operates cloud infrastructure used by companies for AI workloads, storage, and computing services. AWS data centers support high performance machines that process large volumes of data. The growth in AI applications has increased physical infrastructure investment worldwide.
Under the agreement, Rio Tinto will provide refined copper products to meet Amazon’s specifications. These may include wire, cable, and other copper components used in data center builds. Logistics and delivery schedules will be coordinated between suppliers and Amazon’s construction partners.
Amazon’s public filings show ongoing investment in data center capacity across multiple continents. The company has announced new facilities in regions including North America, Europe, and Asia. Expanded data center networks serve customers with cloud computing needs linked to AI, machine learning, and enterprise services.
Rio Tinto’s announcement stated it expects copper demand to rise with continued growth in cloud data center projects. The mining group has previously forecast long term copper consumption increases tied to electrification, renewable power, and digital infrastructure.
The supply deal adds to Amazon’s broader network of commercial partnerships for raw materials and infrastructure inputs. Amazon and Rio Tinto did not provide specific start dates for deliveries but said they would begin in line with project development timelines.
Rio Tinto’s copper output has strategic importance for industries ranging from electronics to renewable energy. Data centers are one of many sectors that rely on stable copper supply chains. The agreement underscores links between raw material producers and technology companies building AI-driven computing capacity.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/rio-tinto-supply-copper-amazon-ai-data-centers-2026-01-15/
