China 2012 Refined Copper Imports 3.4 Mln Tons, up 20% on Year

Jan 21, 2013 (Dow Jones) BEIJING--China's refined copper imports in 2012 rose 20% from a year earlier to a record-high 3.4 million metric tons, the General Administration of Customs said Monday.

Imports in December fell 41.3% on year and 4.7% on month to 238,828 tons.

China's copper concentrate imports in December rose 66.2% on year to 935,303 tons, customs said. In 2012, copper concentrate imports rose 22.7% to 7.8 million tons.

China is the world's largest copper consumer.