China has emerged as a dominant player in the global copper market, with its exports of copper products surging in recent years. Chinese exports of copper foils, tubes, pipes, and other refined copper products grew from $829 million in 2000 to $6.75 billion in 2011, reflecting the country’s rapidly expanding copper processing capabilities. The majority of these Chinese copper exports have been directed to Asian countries, including Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan, where they are likely incorporated into electrical components that are then shipped back to China for final assembly.
This rise in Chinese copper exports has had a significant impact on global copper markets, as China now accounts for a substantial portion of worldwide copper supply. China’s copper demand is expected to continue growing, potentially affecting major copper-exporting countries like Chile and Peru, as well as U.S. copper waste and scrap exporters. To mitigate price volatility, Chinese firms have also been investing in securing copper ore supplies and prices, further solidifying China’s position as a dominant force in the global copper industry.
Citations:
[1] https://directorstalk.net/palm-oil-rises-on-strong-exports
[2] https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/chinese-copper-exports-are-flooding-global-markets-1033497608
[3] https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/2012-08_ChinaCopper(HammerLin).pdf
[4] https://academic.oup.com/book/56144/chapter-abstract/442823831?login=false&redirectedFrom=fulltext
[5] https://www.reuters.com/article/markets/companies/china-copper-exports-fall-in-sign-of-us-weakness-idUSSHA293203/