Clean Copper Conc. Demand May Rise against Growing Arsenic Content in Conc.

SHANGHAI, Feb. 6 (SMM) – With supply of high-arsenic copper concentrate on the rise, demand for clean copper concentrate will be boosted, SMM predicts.

Although markets now expect a surplus in copper concentrate market this year, decreasing grade of materials from major producers means clean concentrate supply may not be as ample as expected, Ji Xianfei, an analyst with SMM said.

Grades of copper ores from Chile kept falling, while arsenic content in Peruvian ores also increased. Meanwhile, most dressing facilities are not yet so skilled in removing arsenic from copper ores.

China only imports copper concentrate with Arsenic content less than 0.5%, say generally 0.3%, as high Arsenic content not only produces pollution during smelting process, but also impairs quality of refined copper.

“An increasing number of blending facilities have been built to blend clean concentrate and high-arsenic concentrate, which is also expected to give a boost clean copper concentrate demand,” Ji added.

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