China to expand imports of scrap copper -industry association

China will expand the scope and volume of scrap copper imports, an industry association official said onWednesday, amid growing demand for the metal key to the energy transition.

Scrap copper imports will reach 1.9 million metric tons this year, up from 1.75 million tons in 2022, Liu Wei, vice president of the China Nonferrous Industry Association Recycling Metal Branch, told the CRU World Copper Conference Asia in Shanghai.

China is the world’s top producer of refined copper, which is used in growing quantities in the renewable energy and electric vehicle industries.

Larger volumes of imported copper scrap could help to reduce copper production costs, while also reducing the environmental impact of making the metal.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Siyi Liu and Mai Nguyen; Editing by Tom Hogue)