July Copper Foil Imports and Exports Both Down MoM, YoY Still Maintains High Growth [SMM Analysis]

According to data from the General Administration of Customs, in July 2026, China’s copper foil (HS codes: 74101100, 74102190) imports were 7,908.95 mt, up 22.2% YoY and down 7.06% MoM; from January to July 2026, China’s cumulative copper foil imports were 53,039.26 mt, up 13.64% YoY. In July 2026, China’s copper foil exports were 7,066.1 mt, up 57.6% YoY and down 8.23% MoM; from January to July 2026, China’s cumulative copper foil exports were 46,758.9 mt, up 70.34% YoY.

    In July 2026, China’s copper foil import value was $188.415 million, up 53.64% YoY and down 4.13% MoM; from January to July 2026, China’s cumulative copper foil import value was $1,157.449 million, up 41.37% YoY. In July 2026, China’s copper foil export value was $119.2991 million, up 104.85% YoY and up 12.79% MoM; from January to July 2026, China’s cumulative copper foil export value was $759.2695 million, up 115.41% YoY. In July 2026, China’s copper foil trade deficit was approximately $69.12 million, up by about $320,000 MoM from $68.8 million in June 2026.

    By trade mode, in July 2026, China imported 5,548.55 mt of copper foil via Ordinary Trade; 176.51 mt via processing trade with supplied materials; 1,216.49 mt via processing trade with imported materials; 937.55 mt via customs special supervision areas; and 29.85 mt via other trade modes. In July 2026, China exported 1,478.12 mt of copper foil via Ordinary Trade; 1,751.78 mt via processing trade with supplied materials; 3,375.78 mt via processing trade with imported materials; 411.31 mt via customs special supervision areas; and 49.12 mt via other trade modes.

    By country/region, in July 2026, the main sources of China’s copper foil imports were Taiwan, China, Malaysia, and Indonesia, with imports of 4,491.66 mt, 1,022.84 mt, and 918.87 mt, respectively. In July 2026, the main destinations for China’s copper foil exports were Thailand, South Korea, and Malaysia, with exports of 1,341.16 mt, 1,012.96 mt, and 996.23 mt, respectively.

    In July 2026, China’s copper clad laminate (CCL) (HS code: 74102110) imports were 4,091.67 mt, up 26.55% YoY and up 26.03% MoM; from January to July 2026, China’s cumulative CCL imports were 24,607.69 mt, up 6.89% YoY. In July 2026, China’s CCL exports were 8,905.19 mt, up 23.17% YoY and down 4.47% MoM; from January to July 2026, China’s cumulative CCL exports were 57,990.65 mt, up 12.58% YoY.

    Overall, in July 2026, China’s copper foil imports and exports both pulled back MoM.On the import side, China’s capacity continued to ramp up, the domestic substitution rate for low and mid-end specifications was already at a high level, import dependence edged down at the margin, and imports continued to contract. The pullback in exports was, on the one hand, due to strong demand from China’s lithium battery and AI computing power sectors, which marginally narrowed the surplus supply available for export; on the other hand, as July was the off-season for consumption in the Northern Hemisphere, the procurement pace for downstream electronics manufacturing and battery assembly in major export destinations such as Southeast Asia slowed down. However, YoY growth remained steady, and the strong momentum is expected to continue in August.