General Administration of Customs: China's Copper Cathode Imports Rose 7.99% YoY in May, Breakdown of Import and Export Data

Published: Jun 20, 2026 21:19

Data released by the General Administration of Customs’ online query platform showed that China’s imports of copper cathode in May 2026 were 316,094.23 mt, up 0.09% MoM and up 7.99% YoY.

In May, China imported 128,615.64 mt of copper cathode from the DRC, down 12.76% MoM and up 42.43% YoY.

In May, China imported 29,851.08 mt from Russia, up 22.80% MoM and down 20.88% YoY.

On the export side, China’s exports of copper cathode in May 2026 were 19,857.06 mt, down 22.45% MoM and down 41.14% YoY.

In May, China exported 7,663.11 mt of copper cathode to Thailand, down 10.32% MoM and up 9.65% YoY.

In May, China exported 4,600.10 mt to Vietnam, up 13.11% MoM and down 41.58% YoY.

Below is a breakdown of import data by origin based on China Customs statistics:

Origin May 2026 (mt) MoM YoY
DRC 128,615.64 -12.76% 42.43%
Russia 29,851.08 22.80% -20.88%
Zambia 20,244.03 84.03% 126.32%
Japan 15,969.24 -2.79% -0.05%
South Korea 15,370.53 178.87% 116.61%
China 14,928.75 5.50% -48.96%
Chile 14,028.31 -6.06% -39.16%
Kazakhstan 12,726.46 -34.96% -21.19%
Uzbekistan 8,967.50 98.20% 137.48%
Australia 8,321.78 6.14% 44.62%
Indonesia 5,021.60 -22.57% -0.95%
Serbia 4,990.42 252.61% -40.42%
Poland 4,680.62 39.05% 29.53%
Pakistan 4,402.80 -42.32% 15.73%
Myanmar 4,379.73 -21.38% 130.09%
India 4,008.66 -39.87% 370.26%
Peru 3,881.38 -42.17% -10.35%
South Africa 2,285.43 -5.57% 6.68%
Netherlands 1,981.23 299.77% -73.37%
Tanzania 1,482.72 98.52% 257.03%
Turkey 1,360.46 66.96% -11.60%
Belgium 1,056.91 117.86% -
Laos 957.40 23.77% 74.70%
Malaysia 744.93 -23.19% -38.74%
Morocco 701.01 48.93% 176.47%
Thailand 682.26 0.86% -37.37%
UAE 674.85 35.03% -87.68%
Spain 502.10 - -
Mongolia 394.03 -23.37% -72.77%
Oman 328.22 8.95% 218.26%
Qatar 315.13 -25.49% -75.29%
Tajikistan 308.94 -62.58% 10.48%
Mexico 204.16 - -87.48%
Jordan 200.85 169.09% 290.61%
Bolivia 200.09 - 373.33%
Gabon 192.18 155.67% 160.26%
Guinea 180.01 76.46% 1.64%
Taiwan, China 178.58 -31.28% -30.34%
Egypt 137.44 -74.79% -50.63%
Saudi Arabia 118.12 626.46% -32.27%
Mauritius 97.27 90.65% 259.46%
Canada 87.93 152.35% 129.61%
Angola 75.49 -80.03% -
France 50.64 - -
Sierra Leone 50.62 -33.69% -
Georgia 43.59 82.22% 81.61%
Lebanon 39.79 - -
Brazil 23.03 - -14.72%
Rwanda 22.08 -11.68% -
Germany 15.01 - -36.77%
Tunisia 13.02 - -
US 0.20 -1.51% -
Total 316,094.23 0.09% 7.99%

Source: China Customs

Below is a breakdown of export data by destination based on China Customs statistics:
Destination May 2026 (mt) MoM YoY
Thailand 7,663.11 -10.32% 9.65%
Vietnam 4,600.10 13.11% -41.58%
Taiwan, China 4,397.79 -32.29% 21.12%
Indonesia 1,702.60 -14.81% 325.62%
Brazil 693.46 - -
Malaysia 499.18 -83.89% -44.48%
Japan 300.32 - -
South Korea 0.50 -99.91% -
Total 19,857.06 -22.45% -41.14%

Source: China Customs

(Wenhua Composite)


Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

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