April 22 (Bloomberg) -- Copper consumption in China, the world's largest user, may rise 8 percent to 6.05 million metric tons this year, said researcher Beijing Antaike Information Development Co.

Demand from the home appliance, real estate and transport sectors will remain robust, said Yang Changhua, an Antaike researcher. China's copper production may rise 10 percent to 4.55 million tons this year and imports may decline by almost a quarter to 2.4 million tons, Yang said at a conference in Beijing today.

The gain in consumption will come even as demand growth from the power sector may slow down sharply as the country reduces network investment by a quarter, Yang said, adding the state grid may reduce copper purchases by 100,000 tons this year compared with a year ago.