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.

For any inquiries or for more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn
Related News
Gravita India to Add 59,200 Tpy of Copper Recycling Capacity at Mundra
1 hour ago
Gravita India to Add 59,200 Tpy of Copper Recycling Capacity at Mundra
Read More
Gravita India to Add 59,200 Tpy of Copper Recycling Capacity at Mundra
Gravita India to Add 59,200 Tpy of Copper Recycling Capacity at Mundra
Gravita India plans to add 59,200 tonnes per year of copper recycling capacity at its existing Mundra facility in Gujarat, with an investment of approximately ₹640 million funded entirely through internal accruals. The capacity will be commissioned in phases by March 31, 2029 and will provide backward integration for Gravita’s proposed Mandvi plant, strengthening its copper recycling value chain and raw-material processing capabilities.
1 hour ago
Diamond Power Invests ₹1.69 Billion to Expand Cable Capacity and Upgrade Copper Rod & Conductor Operations
2 hours ago
Diamond Power Invests ₹1.69 Billion to Expand Cable Capacity and Upgrade Copper Rod & Conductor Operations
Read More
Diamond Power Invests ₹1.69 Billion to Expand Cable Capacity and Upgrade Copper Rod & Conductor Operations
Diamond Power Invests ₹1.69 Billion to Expand Cable Capacity and Upgrade Copper Rod & Conductor Operations
Diamond Power Infrastructure is investing ₹1.686 billion across three expansion projects at its integrated Vadodara complex. The largest project will upgrade its existing rod mill and conductor facilities into a modern 1.1kV aluminium and copper power and control cable plant, adding 42,024 km of annual capacity with commercial production targeted from FY2028. The company currently has around 100,000 tpy of conductor capacity and is also expanding its HV/EHV cable capabilities.
2 hours ago
Accident at MMG's Las Bambas Copper Mine in Peru Leaves Two Dead, Three Injured
2 hours ago
Accident at MMG's Las Bambas Copper Mine in Peru Leaves Two Dead, Three Injured
Read More
Accident at MMG's Las Bambas Copper Mine in Peru Leaves Two Dead, Three Injured
Accident at MMG's Las Bambas Copper Mine in Peru Leaves Two Dead, Three Injured
Minerals and Metals Group (MMG) announced on August 19 that a fatal accident occurred at its Las Bambas copper mine in Peru on August 18 local time. The incident took place at a clarification tank approximately 9 kilometers from the beneficiation plant, where workers were replacing a water pump. Two people were killed — one Las Bambas employee and one employee of contractor SINAR Perú — and three other workers were injured and are currently receiving medical treatment. MMG’s CEO stated that the company has immediately launched an investigation into the accident and will provide relevant support and psychological counseling to the families of the deceased, the injured personnel, and mine site employees. As a precautionary measure, MMG has suspended activities in the area related to the accident and has temporarily halted operations at the Las Bambas mine, with production expected to resume in stages starting August 21. In H1 2026, the Las Bambas mine produced 210,200 mt of copper contained in copper concentrates, with Q2 production of 109,200 mt. MMG previously maintained the mine’s 2026 production guidance for copper in copper concentrates at 380,000–400,000 mt and anticipated that production would reach the upper end of the guidance range. The accident announcement did not disclose the specific production loss caused by the shutdown, nor did it adjust the full-year production guidance.
2 hours ago