China's Copper Foil Import-Export Trade Deficit Narrowed MoM in April 2026

[Import profit margins narrowed, purchase enthusiasm cooled] From late March to April, the center of copper prices continued to rebound, and ex-China secondary copper traders showed strong sentiment to hold prices firm, with the quotation coefficient of bare bright copper against LME remaining in a high range for an extended period, driving procurement costs continuously higher. However, downstream processing enterprises in China had limited acceptance of high-priced copper scrap and showed a strong willingness to push for lower prices. The profit margins on imported copper scrap narrowed compared to the previous period, which was one of the reasons for the MoM pullback in imports in April.

According to data from the General Administration of Customs, China's copper plate/sheet and strip exports in April 2026 totaled 12,246.37 mt, up 5.46% MoM and up 14.01% YoY. From January to April, China's cumulative copper plate/sheet and strip exports reached 45,487.58 mt, up 16.14% YoY cumulatively.

In April 2026, China's copper plate/sheet and strip exports maintained robust growth, reaching 12,246 mt for the month, up 14.01% YoY, covering 100 destination countries and regions. Vietnam, South Korea, and Taiwan, China remained the top three markets, accounting for approximately 31% combined; exports to Vietnam were up 27.0% YoY, South Korea saw a modest increase of 3.1%, and Taiwan, China was down 12.1% YoY. Exports to Malaysia and the US were up 27.4% and 22.9% YoY respectively, while Germany, Indonesia, and India also registered varying degrees of positive growth. Only Japan and Thailand pulled back slightly, with the overall market presenting a diversified growth pattern.