China's Erlian Jan-Feb copper concs imports soar eightfold to 78,000 mt

Chemical News: China's Erlian Jan-Feb copper concs imports soar eightfold to 78,000 mt

https://www.chemnet.com Mar 30,2015 Platts
Erlian Port in Inner Mongolia, Northwest China imported 78,000 mt copper concentrates in January-February 2015, 7.9 times higher than the same period last year, the Erlianhaote city government said on its website Friday.

The import price averaged $7,171/mt, down 21% year on year.

The city government attributed the higher concentrate import volume to China's expanding refined copper production, with 2014 national refined output reaching 7.96 million mt, up around 14% from 2013.

Inner Mongolia is China's key refined copper smelting base, so requiring substantial volumes of imported copper concentrates.

According to China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, due to resources issues, environmental protection and policy factors, there will be limited growth in mined copper capacity in Inner Mongolia. 2012-15 capacity is expected to grow just 13% to 300,000 mt/year by end-2015 from 266,000 mt/year at end-2012.

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