Metals & Minerals

The global trade of copper concentrate follows a predominant direction where American countries like Chile and Peru export to various destinations, including China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Germany in Europe. This trade pattern is a result of the uneven distribution of global copper mine capacity and copper smelting capacity. It is expected that this trade pattern will continue in the future, with an increase in copper concentrate exports to Asia, particularly China, as its copper smelting capacity expands.

In 2021, China imported 23.4 million tons of copper concentrate, equivalent to approximately 5.85 million tons of copper metal content. The largest import sources for China were Chile and Peru, accounting for 37.9% and 23.6% of imports, respectively. Mexico, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan were also significant sources, accounting for 6.2%, 5.1%, and 3.4% of imports, respectively. Over the years, the domestic demand for copper concentrate has been growing, resulting in an increasing reliance on external sources. In 2021, China's external dependence for copper concentrate reached 77%.

The International Copper Association, along with various stakeholders, has been actively exploring the comprehensive utilization of copper industry wastewater, waste gas, solid waste, and other related technologies and management practices. Extensive analysis of the copper fire smelting process has led to the identification of solid waste pollutant emissions characteristics. Building upon existing pollution prevention and control technologies, efforts have focused on promising new methods and technologies to effectively address solid waste pollution in the copper smelting industry. The aim is to provide practical data support for improving resource utilization, preventing and controlling pollution emissions, and offering guidance for industrial operations and relevant regulatory bodies.

The International Copper Association is committed to leveraging its strengths and collaborating with industry associations to provide support for the green and low-carbon development of China's copper industry. This cooperation aims to contribute to sustainable practices, environmental protection, and the overall advancement of the copper industry in China.