Korea Eximbank will provide $1 billion in working capital to Glencore under an agreement that links the financing to stable copper supplies for South Korean companies during the loan period. The state-backed lender said the structure goes beyond simple financial support by embedding copper supply obligations into the loan terms, aiming to strengthen South Korea's copper procurement base as demand rises with AI data centers, power grids and broader industrial use. Glencore, headquartered in Switzerland, operates mines and smelting facilities in countries including Chile and Peru, produces copper, zinc and nickel, and trades more than 60 raw materials through a global network of customers and suppliers. Korea Eximbank said the arrangement supports economic security at a time of intensifying competition for critical minerals needed for AI and the energy transition, and it plans to broaden cooperation with global resource companies to secure stable supplies for strategic industries.