Copper plate/sheet and strip exports in May fell 5.18% YoY. ASEAN market took over transferred volume [SMM Analysis]

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       According to data from the General Administration of Customs, domestic copper plate/sheet and strip exports reached 11,033 mt in May 2025, up 2.71% MoM and down 5.18% YoY. As of April, China's cumulative copper plate/sheet and strip exports totaled 50,198 mt, representing a cumulative YoY increase of 3.96%.

  In May, China's copper plate/sheet and strip export market exhibited a differentiated development trend. Customs data showed that copper plate/sheet and strip exports in May covered 85 countries and regions. Although total exports pulled back YoY (down 5.18% YoY), there were still bright spots when viewed in the context of market dynamics. Against the backdrop of ongoing Sino-US tariff disputes, China actively adjusted its export structure, increasing export efforts to regions such as India and ASEAN. This strategy also yielded results in the export data for May. Specifically, among the top 10 countries and regions for China's copper plate/sheet and strip exports in May, South Korea, Vietnam, and India ranked first, second, and third with 1,385 mt, 1,196 mt, and 857 mt, respectively. Among them, exports to South Korea increased 8.4% YoY, continuing the positive trend; exports to India surged 17.6% YoY, indicating significant demand growth; while exports to Vietnam fell 16.0% YoY, showing pressure. Additionally, exports of copper plate/sheet and strip to Indonesia and Malaysia increased significantly, up 78.9% and 63.9% compared to the same period in previous years, ranking tenth and sixth, respectively. As an important ASEAN country, Indonesia became one of the beneficiary markets for the shift in exports. However, the volume of copper plate/sheet and strip exported to the US and Taiwan, China in May suffered a sharp decline, falling 58.3% and 39.5% YoY, respectively.

        China's copper plate/sheet and strip export trade mode structure is distinct. Processing with Imported Materials dominates, with exports of 7,823 mt in May, accounting for 70.9%; Processing Trade with Supplied Materials exports were 1,499 mt, accounting for 13.6%; Ordinary Trade exports were 1,115 mt, accounting for 10.1%; and exports through other trade modes were 596 mt, accounting for 5.4%, supplementing diverse trade scenarios and jointly shaping the overall structure. (HS codes: 74091110, 74091190, 74091900, 74092100, 74092900, 74093100, 74093900, 74094000, 74099000)

    Data source: General Administration of Customs