Review of China's Copper Scrap Imports in 2022

SHANGHAI, Jan 31 (SMM) - According to the data released by the General Administration of Customs of China, China's copper scrap imports in December 2022 reached 139,100 mt, a decrease of 22,500 mt from November. The decline was mainly a result of narrowed import profits and even import losses at some point. 

As for the whole year of 2022, the import volume of copper scrap totalled 1.77 million mt, an increase of about 80,000 mt from 2021. The imports of shredded copper scrap fell aggressively under the influence of relevant import policies. Yet, the amount of copper scrap imports in metal content barely changed thanks to its improving grade.

In 2022, the United States was once again the largest supplier of copper scrap to China. In fact, China imported a total of 321,100 mt of copper scrap from the United States, 18% of all imports. The imports from Japan stood at 245,600 mt, accounting for 14% of the total, followed by imports from Malaysia at 202,300 mt with a market share of 12%.

The import volume of unwrought refined copper in 2022 gained 33,000 mt on a yearly basis to 153,200 mt; that of unwrought copper-zinc alloy (brass) shed 57,000 mt to 170,100 mt; that of unwrought copper-tin alloy (bronze) was 12,300 mt, down 1,900 mt on the year. The import volume of other unwrought copper alloys was 170,400 mt, an increase of about 29,000 mt compared to the previous year.