SMM September 23 News:
According to data from the General Administration of Customs, China's copper foil (HS codes: 74101100, 74102190) imports in August 2025 reached 6,822.56 mt, up 2.94% YoY and up 5.41% MoM. From January to August 2025, cumulative copper foil imports totaled 53,488.41 mt, up 1.61% YoY.
In August 2025, China's copper foil import value was $123.82 million, up 6.87% YoY and up 0.96% MoM. From January to August 2025, the cumulative import value was $942.44 million, up 7.60% YoY.
Copper foil exports in August 2025 amounted to 5,225.95 mt, up 28.96% YoY and up 16.56% MoM. Cumulative exports from January to August 2025 reached 32,675.85 mt, up 12.95% YoY.
The export value of copper foil in August 2025 was $69.24 million, up 38.29% YoY and up 18.89% MoM. The cumulative export value from January to August 2025 was $421.71 million, up 19.99% YoY.
In August 2025, China's copper foil trade deficit was approximately $54.58 million, a decrease of about $9.82 million MoM compared to July's $64.40 million.
By trade mode, China's copper foil imports in August 2025 were as follows: Ordinary Trade (4,922.43 mt), Processing Trade with Supplied Materials (453.6 mt), Processing with Imported Materials (656.34 mt), and other trade modes (790.19 mt).
Copper foil exports by trade mode in August 2025 were: Ordinary Trade (954.29 mt), Processing Trade with Supplied Materials (986.04 mt), Processing with Imported Materials (3,031.53 mt), and other trade modes (254.08 mt).
By country/region, the main sources of China's copper foil imports in August 2025 were Taiwan, China (4,249.31 mt), Malaysia (876.95 mt), and Luxembourg (566.37 mt).
The main destinations for China's copper foil exports in August 2025 were Thailand (1,023.79 mt), South Korea (893.34 mt), and Malaysia (697.27 mt).
In August 2025, China's imports of copper clad laminates (HS code: 74102110) reached 3,417.14 mt, down 18.12% YoY but up 5.68% MoM. From January to August 2025, cumulative imports totaled 26,439.07 mt, down 2.23% YoY.
In August 2025, China's exports of copper clad laminates reached 8,377.20 mt, up 4.22% YoY and up 15.87% MoM. From January to August 2025, cumulative exports amounted to 59,867.55 mt, down 8.85% YoY.
Imports side, accelerated construction of AI servers and 5G base stations in China this year drove robust demand for high-end copper foil such as RTF and HVLP types, significantly boosting demand for imported copper foil.
Exports side, global energy transition, the spread of AI technology, and the postponement of U.S. tariff policies supported growth in overseas end-use demand. Meanwhile, improvements in China's independent R&D of high-end copper foil production technology and continued capacity release from major manufacturers enhanced export competitiveness. Southeast Asian countries, leveraging low tariffs and geographical advantages, became important transit hubs for Chinese copper foil and CCL. Additionally, the rebound in manufacturing PMI in Europe and the U.S. in Q3 drove a recovery in demand from industries such as electronics and automotive.
